Publications

In February 2024, New Jersey Advocates for Aging Well (NJAAW) conducted a Statewide Survey of Older Adults. This survey gathered both quantitative and qualitative data from residents aged 60+ on the challenges and concerns related to aging in New Jersey. The findings show that the cost of living, including taxes, housing costs, and overall expenses, […]

Corporate ownership of single-family homes and other small residential properties has drawn growing concern from housing advocates and policymakers in New Jersey and nationally. While the large rental home companies that sprang up in the aftermath of the foreclosure crisis are virtually absent from New Jersey, prior research has found that corporate owners account for […]

The New York Fed Consumer Credit Panel, based on Equifax data, provides insights into consumer credit trends, both nationally and by state. More specifically, the survey computes national and regional aggregate measures of individual- and household-level credit balances, and delinquencies by product type. The Consumer Credit Panel also provides new insights into the extent and […]

As New Jersey prepares to elect our next governor tomorrow, November 4th, the months ahead offer a pivotal opportunity to chart a path toward a more innovative and resilient state. To help inform this transition, the New Jersey State Policy Lab invited affiliated faculty and staff to identify the most pressing priorities for the next […]

On Wednesday, September 1, 2021, heavy rain from Tropical Storm Ida caused the Elizabeth River in New Jersey to overflow its banks. Elizabeth’s largest source of low-income housing, the Oakwood Plaza Apartment complex, adjacent to the river, was flooded with up to ten feet of water, trapping many residents in their ground-floor apartments. Four people […]

New Jersey has an innovative Assisted Living Program (ALP) designed exclusively for seniors living in subsidized public housing. ALPs help older adults remain in their communities when they experience cognitive and physical decline over time, by providing hands-on assistance with personal care, medications, nursing, and social services, with the objective of preventing or delaying placement […]

As part of our ongoing research project supported by the New Jersey State Policy Lab, we are examining the growth of corporate ownership in the state’s small residential property market. Our focus is on 1- to 4-unit properties, which, in addition to accounting for the majority of owner-occupied units, also make up a large share […]

In this fifth blog post on our research into corporate ownership of New Jersey’s one- to four-unit residential properties, we share more preliminary findings from our analysis of changes in property ownership between 2012 and 2022. As growing corporate ownership has become a concern for housing advocates and policymakers nationwide, including in New Jersey, we […]

From February 1 to April 1, 2024, New Jersey Advocates for Aging Well (NJAAW) conducted the “Statewide Survey of Older Adults” for NJ residents aged 60 and older. The survey had 1,440 participants throughout the state, with all counties represented. The results of the survey were released in August 2024. The number one issue of […]

As the New Jersey State Policy Lab (NJSPL) reaches its fourth anniversary, it is my honor to serve as the Executive Director, working with an incredible team of dedicated professionals to better understand and investigate policy issues impacting the state. The NJSPL was created as the result of a grant from the Office of the Secretary […]

This blog continues a series examining Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs, active in 32 states and the District of Columbia, which enable residential and commercial property owners to undertake energy efficiency, water conservation, renewable energy, and resiliency improvements. PACE programs provide the upfront financing for these projects by using the borrowing authority of municipal […]

In this fourth blog post on our research into corporate and investor ownership of New Jersey’s one- to four-unit residential properties, we present some preliminary findings from our analysis of property ownership from 2012 to 2022. Investor ownership, particularly by corporate entities, has become a growing concern for housing advocates and policymakers. Research suggests that […]