By Brenda Flanagan
Correspondent
A caller to “Ask the Governor” named Dan asked Gov. Chris Christie to issue some rules about how much affordable housing towns should be required to build. Christie said that argument’s mired in a Supreme Court case.
“But I don’t think we have this overwhelming need for affordable housing in the state, either,” the governor said.
“Wow. He said that, for real? That’s crazy. That’s really crazy. I mean — affordable housing,” said Roger Busby.
Busby’s lived at the YMCA in Newark with his two little boys. He’s disabled, and can’t find an affordable apartment in North Jersey, but refuses to leave.
“We have to plant roots somewhere. We just can’t keep — when things get difficult — to just get on a bus and just run somewhere or just run to somebody for help,” Busby said.
“I’m from Jersey, but Jersey doesn’t really care,” said Kristal Bullock.
Bullock also lives at the Newark Y with her two teenagers. She can’t afford $1,300 a month to rent around here.
“I’m looking into moving into a three-bedroom in Georgia,” Bullock said. When asked if she can afford that, Bullock said, “Yeah. It’s only $400 and change [a month].”
“I would invite the governor to come down and spend some time with our residents,” said Victor Nicholson.
Nicholson coordinates activities at the Y, which rents some rooms for $500 to $600 a month. Families live on three floors here, singles on a couple other, teenagers. The Y urges groups to adopt and remodel rooms so they’re more livable for residents here — hundreds of homeless.
“They just don’t make enough money to afford their own home. At $7 to $8 per hour there’s no way they will make enough to afford a three/four bedroom home for their children,” Nicholson said.
“We have a lot of people who are considered working poor. This is the most affordable they can manage at this point,” said YMCA of Newark and Vicinity President and CEO Michael Bright.
U.S. census data show 1 million New Jerseyans live at or below the federal poverty line, earning $21,000 or less a year.
“The homeless population has increased 16 percent in the last year. That’s a housing crisis,” said Beverly Brown Ruggia.
So when Brown Ruggia at New Jersey Citizen Action heard this from Christie: “But I don’t think we have this overwhelming need for affordable housing in the state, either,” she said, “The statement indicates he has no idea what’s going on. He’s completely out of touch with the housing situation in his own state.”
For some people, the YMCA can be a very good home. But the Y cannot single-handedly solve New Jersey’s affordable housing crisis. That will take political will and substantial capital.