2024 municipal population estimates indicate a return to population growth in urban centers – and in the rest of the state. Late in the decade of the 2000s, around the time of the Great Recession, New Jersey’s population growth pattern underwent a major shift.
Housing and Equity
Urban Centers Are Back! In Fact, So Is the Whole State of New Jersey
Tuesday, August 12th, 2025Navigating New Jersey’s REAL Rules
Wednesday, July 16th, 2025“Sixty-two thousand homes along New Jersey’s coast will experience chronic flooding by 2050,” said Diane Schrauth, Water Policy Director at New Jersey Future, during the 2025 NJ Planning & Redevelopment Conference (NJPRC). That will be the material reality for tens of thousands of New Jerseyans who will face skyrocketing flood insurance rates, loss of property value, and, eventually, displacement.
When Water Holds Back Housing: What to Expect from New Jersey’s New State Fiscal Year 2026 Intended Use Plans
Tuesday, July 15th, 2025As New Jersey faces a growing housing crisis, it’s becoming increasingly clear that water infrastructure is more than just a utility concern; it’s a fundamental barrier to equitable development and housing growth.
Farewell Spotlight: Chris Sturm Retires After 23 Years of Championing a Better New Jersey
Tuesday, July 15th, 2025As we bid a fond farewell to Chris Sturm, policy director and longtime advocate at New Jersey Future, we celebrate a legacy of leadership rooted in passion, persistence, and purpose. Chris has been a driving force behind some of New Jersey Future’s most successful initiatives—from promoting equitable water infrastructure to championing great places to live. On her final day, Chris sat down with me to reflect on what she’s most proud of, what she’s learned, and what she hopes for the future.
New Jersey’s Changing Face: Planning for Intergenerational Households in a Diverse State
Tuesday, July 1st, 2025New Jersey’s demographic shifts and our current housing supply and affordability crisis require planners and local officials to rethink what many consider “traditional” housing models and explore, embrace, and encourage a variety of living arrangements. Intergenerational housing models—living arrangements that bring together people of different generations, regardless of if they hold familial relationship—offer ways to meet our housing and community needs and plan for the future.
Planning with Purpose: Beth Osborne Calls for Local Leadership and Smart Coalitions
Tuesday, July 1st, 2025At the 2025 New Jersey Planning and Redevelopment Conference, hosted in partnership by New Jersey Future and the New Jersey Chapter of the American Planning Association, Beth Osborne—Interim President and CEO of Smart Growth America—delivered a keynote that challenged and inspired. In front of a packed audience of planners, community advocates, and developers, Osborne made one thing clear: transformative change starts locally.
Building the Future: Actions to Achieve Great Homes and Neighborhoods in New Jersey and Beyond
Monday, June 30th, 2025New Jersey is amidst a deepening housing crisis—particularly an affordability crisis. In all corners of the state, longtime residents are being priced out of their homes as housing costs soar. In fact, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, New Jersey has a shortage of over 200,000 housing units for low-income residents. Newark now ranks as the most difficult city in the United States to find a rental property. More than one-third of New Jersey residents are cost-burdened, meaning that they spend more than 30% of their income on housing. These statistics make one thing clear: New Jersey’s housing crisis cannot be ignored.
“A Historically High Level of Compliance:” New Jersey Towns Are Making Progress in Meeting Their Affordable Housing Targets
Monday, June 30th, 2025New Jersey’s high housing costs make life difficult for everyone, especially individuals and households at the lower end of the income spectrum. New Jersey’s Mount Laurel doctrine addresses the need for housing for lower-income households. The process by which towns satisfy their affordable housing obligations was recently updated with the passage of new legislation (now colloquially referred to as A4/S50), which established a formal methodology for determining municipal obligations and laid out a timeline of compliance for municipalities to follow.
The Road Ahead: Why Housing Trends Will Shape New Jersey’s Future
Thursday, June 26th, 2025On Day 1 of the New Jersey Planning and Redevelopment Conference, the keynote session “The Road Ahead: Economic, Housing, and Real Estate Trends” painted a clear picture of the challenges and opportunities shaping New Jersey’s housing future—and why the stakes are higher than ever.
More Home Choices for New Jersey: How Accessory Dwelling Units Can Help Solve Our Housing Shortage
Thursday, May 15th, 2025If you’ve tried finding a home in New Jersey recently, you already know: the rent is too high, buying a home feels impossible, and competition is fierce. Rentals disappear overnight and homebuyers face bidding wars that drive prices out of reach. Why is it so difficult to find an affordable place to live?
