New Jersey Future Blog
The Road Ahead: Why Housing Trends Will Shape New Jersey’s Future
June 26th, 2025 by Valerie Merritt
On Day 1 of the New Jersey Planning and Redevelopment Conference hosted by New Jersey Future and APA New Jersey, 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.
One takeaway rang especially loud: we are simply not building enough housing. The shortage is pushing prices higher, and the consequences are real. Critical to New Jersey’s workforce and long-term economic vitality, young adults are increasingly being priced out and leaving the state, searching for more affordable housing. This trend threatens our state’s talent pipeline and could undermine businesses’ ability to attract and retain young workers.
Jeffrey Otteau, chief economist, Otteau Group, speaking at the 2025 NJ Planning & Redevelopment Conference during the keynote session “The Road Ahead: Economic, Housing, and Real Estate Trends in the Garden State,” before being joined by response panelists Melanie Walter, executive director, New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, and Emma Corrado, chief of staff, New Jersey Economic Development Authority
At the same time, immigrants continue to be a driving force behind New Jersey’s population growth. Not only are they sustaining our communities, but data shows that immigrants to New Jersey tend to have higher-than-average incomes, making them a critical part of our economic engine. Planning for a future that supports and welcomes this population is not just socially wise—it’s economically essential.
A third insight discussed in the session was how we’re meeting affordable housing requirements. While New Jersey is working to comply with the Mount Laurel doctrine, it over relies on large apartment buildings. This approach neglects the full spectrum of housing types—such as duplexes, triplexes, townhomes, and accessory dwelling units—that are just as important in creating inclusive, diverse communities.
These issues aren’t new, but they are urgent. If New Jersey is to remain a place where people of all ages and backgrounds can live and thrive, we must prioritize housing choice, affordability, and thoughtful land use planning.
For deeper context on these issues, check out these features written by Tim Evans, Research & Policy Director at New Jersey Future:
- A Snapshot of Housing Supply, Affordability, and Land Use in New Jersey
- Are Millennials Leaving New Jersey Because Housing Costs Too Much? (2019)
- New Jersey Losing Population for the First Time in Four Decades
The road ahead will require bold planning, inclusive policy, and a shared commitment to making New Jersey a place that works for everyone.
Clawbacks of Transportation and Green Infrastructure Funding
June 19th, 2025 by Claudia Thomson
Green infrastructure captures stormwater and allows it to filter into the ground, reducing flooding and pollution. Green infrastructure can take many different forms, such as rain gardens, permeable pavements, and curb bump-outs. This curb bump-out captures rainwater and slows traffic, serving both as stormwater management and a pedestrian safety feature.
Despite New Jersey facing growing flood risks, the federal government is now targeting low-cost solutions like green infrastructure for funding cuts to reduce spending. Green Infrastructure absorbs and slows stormwater runoff, curbs flooding in communities, and reduces the pollution that reaches waterways; however, green infrastructure needs broad implementation to make a difference. The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) previously provided federal funding for projects that incorporated green infrastructure, but staff with the Urban Institute shared a leaked memo revealing new priorities. USDOT reviewed certain approved projects to potentially reduce or modify their scopes to align with the new administration’s goals, in part removing green infrastructure.
State and local governments need federal funding for infrastructure projects to plan and build at the necessary scale. The current projection for more intense rainfall in New Jersey will also strain stormwater infrastructure and demand solutions. The 117th Congress enacted the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to address this need.
New Jersey already saw a cut to an IIJA-funded project when Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a $140 million reduction to the Dock Bridge rehabilitation project in North Jersey, even with construction underway. The bridge’s deteriorating infrastructure had long needed investment, and questions remain about why the scope was revised and where the unused money will go.
Initial Executive Orders
On Inauguration Day, President Trump made a clear break from the Biden administration’s infrastructure funding priorities by signing multiple executive orders rescinding Biden-era policies on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), gender terminology, and climate, as well as pausing the disbursement of funds appropriated under the IRA and the IIJA. Soon after, Secretary Duffy signed a Secretarial Memorandum to incorporate this agenda into USDOT by directing agencies to identify internal policies that do not align with the orders and then restructure or cancel the policies. Duffy also released a Secretarial Order declaring that future grant-making policy would be based on economic principles and analysis supported by cost-benefit requirements.
Competitive discretionary grant programs are a specific topic of contention because of how the Biden Administration used these to advance its climate goals. The new administration inherited 3,200 unobligated grants announced by the Biden administration, which, through the “Build a Better America” memos, had eligibility requirements to support sustainability, equity, and climate resilience. Duffy rescinded these memos, citing the “meritless and costly burdens” related to Greenhouse Gas emission reductions and equity, and is now removing these requirements from these grants before distributing the funds.
Clawback of Funding
New Administrations always come with their own agenda, and restructuring funding serves as a way to implement new priorities, but retroactively imposing this agenda on already approved projects takes this Administration’s efforts one step further. The leaked March 12th USDOT memo, sent to senior staff at the Federal Transit Administration and the Federal Highway Administration, instructed them to review partially obligated grant agreements competitively selected after January 20, 2021. As a result, the Trump Administration will reevaluate federal funding promised to states to align with the new administration’s priorities on energy, climate change, diversity, gender, and economic analysis, despite grant applications originally asking for a different set of standards.
The first step in the process is program identification: USDOT staff will flag projects that include climate change, environmental justice (EJ), and bicycle infrastructure in their scope. Step two involves a project-by-project review for activities such as equity analysis, green infrastructure, bicycle infrastructure, electric vehicle infrastructure, or a project purpose that includes equity, climate, or a goal to “purposefully improve the conditions for EJ communities or actively reduce GHG emissions.” Based on that review, potential actions include canceling the project entirely, revising it with a reduced or modified scope, or continuing.
The Impact on New Jersey
Whether the funds awarded to New Jersey will reach the communities relying on them is now up in the air, despite the critical nature of these projects. Two grant programs under review are Safe Streets for All (SS4A), a competitive grant program to prevent roadway fatalities and serious injuries, and Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE), a discretionary grant program to rebuild and repair critical infrastructure. Supporting building bike lanes, proven to improve riders’ safety, is an important technique to achieve the safety goals set out by SS4A, but is now something the administration has directly called out. Revoking these awards means federal dollars might not reach communities that have proven themselves in need of funding. New Jersey has 40 SS4A projects with nearly $48 million in federal funding awarded across all 12 congressional districts. There are 16 RAISE projects under IIJA, three awarded, totaling $64 million, and 13 still unfunded applications, totaling nearly $77 million. These projects represent an effort across the state to improve people’s safety and quality of life. Past projects in New Jersey created multimodal trails, improved the efficiency of roads, built bridges, and increased ferry services: expanding residents’ access to quality transportation and allowing more choices for how people move through life.
These up-for-review projects connect to the policy goals of Complete & Green Streets, which New Jersey’s state government has supported to improve the health and well-being of communities. In 2024, the Murphy administration launched a program with NJDEP to modernize stormwater infrastructure. As part of the program, each county had $75,000 available to plan a green street project along county roads. Equity is a focal point of the Complete & Green Streets Policy and NJDEP program, prioritizing project proposals within overburdened communities. There is a clear conflict between these State goals and the actions of the current federal administration, threatening infrastructure projects’ eligibility for federal financial support and the ability of municipalities in New Jersey to plan or construct these projects.
Green infrastructure solutions have proven effective in bolstering New Jersey’s climate resilience. In Hoboken, Hurricane Sandy caused over $110 million in property damage and left some residents without power for two weeks, a wake-up call for the city’s need for resilient infrastructure. In 2014, the city was awarded funding through Rebuild by Design to use green infrastructure to delay and store stormwater, along with enhancing existing infrastructure. The most notable projects are Hoboken’s Resiliency Parks, which serve as a national model by blending stormwater retention with community open space. Because of these infrastructure investments, the city can now capture higher volumes of stormwater and quickly recover from storms that would have previously shut down parts of the city.
Impoundments of Funds
This shake-up of funding, both through stopping funds appropriated by Congress and clawing back awarded grants, raised questions about the legality of these actions. Typically, a clawback, or recoupment of payment, happens because of an overpayment, an ineligible expense, or a breach of the terms and conditions of the grant agreement. Duffy claims that DEI policies violate federal law and that by breaking the law, projects are in breach of their grant agreement. He says singling out particular communities violates the law, which occurred when funding sources like the IRA and IIJA directed USDOT to favor ‘underserved communities’. What was previously encouraged within applications now serves as justification for their cancellation.
Despite the executive branch’s constitutionally defined obligation to administer funds appropriated by Congress, the Trump administration chooses not to spend money it deems wasteful or out of step with its goals. Canceling or delaying federal funding already enacted by Congress is called impoundment. Some say that Congress’s ‘power of the purse’ does not allow the executive to decide not to spend approved money. Russel Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), defended the funding freezes as programmatic delays, rather than impoundments. During the Presidential campaign, Trump stated he would challenge the limits imposed by the Impoundment Control Act (ICA) on the executive to reduce wasteful spending further. In 1974, Congress passed the ICA to create a process for the president to impound funds, but it does not allow the executive to have unilateral control of the budget. A complication to this discussion is that the Supreme Court has not specifically ruled on the constitutionality of impoundment.
The current administration’s goals are at odds with efforts in New Jersey to invest in safe, climate-resilient infrastructure, and the clawback of federal funds will make it harder for towns to achieve these goals and plan for future infrastructure projects. The threat of increased rainfall and sea-level rise will put additional strain on New Jersey’s stormwater infrastructure, and measures to reduce this impact, like green infrastructure, are needed across the state to increase the amount of water absorbed where it falls.
From Liberation to Livability: The Deep Connection Between Juneteenth and Urban Development
June 19th, 2025 by Valerie Merritt
As we reflect on the powerful conversations and momentum sparked during the New Jersey Planning and Redevelopment Conference held just days ago, we also find ourselves reflecting on another moment of significance—Juneteenth. Though these two events may appear unrelated in nature, they are bound by a common thread: the enduring pursuit of freedom, equity, and opportunity for communities of color and other historically marginalized populations.
Juneteenth, observed on June 19, marks the day in 1865 when the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas learned they were free—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It is a day of remembrance, resilience, and celebration. But Juneteenth is not just about the past; it’s also a call to action. It reminds us that freedom delayed is freedom denied—and that the systems built in the wake of slavery continue to shape our urban environments today.
At New Jersey Future’s 2025 Planning and Redevelopment Conference, held June 11–13, in partnership with the New Jersey chapter of the American Planning Association (APA NJ), over 800 participants came together (virtually and in-person) to explore the future of our state’s communities—from housing affordability to infrastructure resilience, climate justice, and equitable redevelopment. The themes that resonated most deeply for me as a first timer to PRC—who gets to live where, who benefits from redevelopment, and who has a voice in shaping their neighborhoods—are questions that trace their roots to our country’s unfinished reckoning with racial injustice.
Too often, Black and Brown communities have borne the brunt of harmful planning decisions: redlining, disinvestment, environmental racism, and displacement. Yet today, these same communities are leading the charge toward renewal and reinvention. Through community organizing, policy advocacy, and creative placemaking, they are not just surviving urban development—they are reshaping it.
Juneteenth challenges us to expand our definition of freedom. It is not enough to be free in law; freedom must be felt in the fabric of our daily lives—in safe housing, good schools, clean air, affordable transportation, and thriving local economies. These are the very outcomes that equitable planning and redevelopment seek to secure.
As we celebrate Juneteenth on Thursday, June 19, we must also remember that every roadmap we draft and every policy we implement can be a step toward liberation—or a barrier against it. The work we do at New Jersey Future is not separate from this truth—it is deeply intertwined with it.
We will continue to honor Juneteenth, not just with words, but with action. I’m proud to be a part of a team that plans with purpose, invests with equity, and ensures that all New Jerseyans—especially those who have been left behind for far too long—can share in the promise of prosperous, sustainable, and just communities.
Because true freedom doesn’t end with emancipation—it begins with empowerment.
Walking Together: Honoring Our History, Healing Through Nature, Reimagining What’s Possible
June 16th, 2025 by Tenisha Malcolm-Wint
Tenisha Malcolm-Wint, Founder & Executive Director, Outdoors On Purpose and Trustee, New Jersey Future
As we approach this year’s Juneteenth, many of us will gather to commemorate a day of delayed freedom—an emancipation long overdue, and one still too often compromised. We will remember the ongoing struggle for Black liberation. But we must also reflect on where that liberation happens: in places where we can breathe freely, move freely, and simply be.
That is why Outdoors On Purpose is proud to launch a statewide Juneteenth initiative rooted in healing, reflection, and community—through hiking, canoeing, birdwatching, archery, and more. We invite individuals and families to connect with the land and with one another, creating space to honor Juneteenth’s legacy with integrity.
Because for Black and Brown communities, outdoor space has never been neutral. It has too often been a site of exclusion, dispossession, and surveillance. Yet it is also a site of resistance and renewal—a place to reclaim our right to rest, joy, and belonging.
On June 17, 2025, we will gather in Trenton for a special visioning walk along the Delaware River, co-hosted with Reconnecting Trenton’s Riverfront. We will start at Old Mill Hill Park and walk together toward the future Capital Park grounds near the Statehouse—imagining what it means to reconnect with a waterfront that was once a vital artery of Trenton life, and could be again.
This is about more than a walk. It is a call to action.
Trenton was once deeply connected to the river, with vibrant parks, civic spaces, and thriving neighborhoods. That connection was severed when Route 29 was built—prioritizing cars over people, displacing families, and erasing beloved community spaces. Today, the effort to restore access to the riverfront is an act of justice, equity, and repair.
Transforming Route 29 into a boulevard and advancing Capital Park would:
- Make Trenton safer to walk, bike, and gather
- Reconnect neighborhoods long divided
- Create a vibrant public space that honors Trenton’s history and serves its future
- Drive local economic growth and community vitality
Capital Park has already secured $8 million in state funding—but momentum has stalled. We cannot allow this vision to languish. The community is ready. The opportunity is now.
In launching this Juneteenth initiative, Outdoors On Purpose is making a simple ask: let us see the fight for freedom, especially for Black and Brown communities, and the fight for equitable public spaces as one and the same. Liberation is not just about rights—it’s about access. It’s about place. It’s about being able to breathe, gather, reflect, and heal in the land that is ours too.
Yet like many community-rooted organizations doing this work, we need support too—human capital, financial investment, and reciprocal partnerships. The work of reclaiming outdoor spaces for communities cannot be sustained on passion alone. If you believe in this mission, we invite you to stand with us—not just in word, but in action.
Join us:
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Old Mill Hill Park to future Capital Park, Trenton, NJ
A Tale of Two Upbringings and a Shared Vision For a Healthy Environment
May 21st, 2025 by New Jersey Future staff
By Jyoti Venketraman, director of collaborations and organizational equity, and Andrea Sapal, program manager
Our formative years and lived experiences are vastly different. One of us is a first-generation immigrant, and the other is a second-generation immigrant, both of whom call this state their home. We both bring distinctly different cultural lenses and identities, yet we have shared passions and values for creating a healthy environment for everyone in NJ.
Jyoti: My formative memories of water took shape in India, rooted in a few distinct experiences. One, the first monsoon rain, and the sense of joy it brought after the scorching summer heat. Two, the flooding from heavy monsoon rains, and how difficult it would be to get to anywhere. Lastly, being aware of an inconsistent water supply, which required a workaround of storage tanks on the roof of buildings or underground, so that water is collected and stored for later use. These past events inform and shape my work today on issues of affordable and reliable water supply, and ensuring there are solutions to prevent flooding in communities across NJ.
Andrea: “Did you hear? The land is no good. It’s polluted.” Growing up, I heard various versions of that statement from the adults around me concerning a plot of land in Jersey City across from my neighborhood, but I thought nothing of it. Later, I learned the site was formerly home to a chromium manufacturing facility, which dumped chromate waste into the river, contaminating the soil and drinking water. Recently, during a conference, I found myself looking at photos of the area I knew so well. The presenter, Captain Bill Sheehan of Hackensack Riverkeeper, launched the lawsuit to hold the polluters accountable for contamination of the river. His activism will positively impact kids like me, who grew up near contaminated water sites. My lived experiences shape how important I view my work today, being part of the solution that will benefit future generations of New Jerseyans.
We both believe that a healthy environment should not be the privilege of a few but a right for everyone! Our unique cultural lens enriches our collective work through the Sewage Free Streets and Rivers Campaign, which is focused on NJ’s combined sewer overflow towns.
More Home Choices for New Jersey: How Accessory Dwelling Units Can Help Solve Our Housing Shortage
May 15th, 2025 by Laurel Cooke
Laurel Cooke recently completed her MPA at Princeton’s School of Public and International Affairs. Laurel served as the Spring 2025 Social Impact Fellow at New Jersey Future.
If 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?
The simple truth is that there aren’t enough homes that match people’s budgets and needs. In New Jersey, a system of “home rule” gives each town wide control over zoning, which often results in restrictive local rules that block the kinds of housing people actually need. But what if one solution is hiding right in our backyards?
Accessory Dwelling Units: A Common-Sense Solution
Known as backyard cottages, garage apartments, or in-law suites, these Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are smaller homes built on the same property as an existing house. They offer affordable living for older adults seeking to downsize, young adults starting out, or essential workers who want to live close to their jobs and families. They are also environmentally friendly–using existing land and infrastructure–and they help neighborhoods evolve by adding diverse housing without drastic changes. Research from the AARP highlights additional motivations for building backyard apartments, such as caring for loved ones, earning rental income, increasing property value, and enhancing safety by having someone nearby.
Joiedevivre123321, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Cities across America have embraced accessory or backyard apartments, successfully increasing the supply of more affordable housing without drastically altering neighborhoods. Here’s what happened when cities in other states simplified their zoning rules:
Boise, Idaho: 9x Increase in Accessory Dwelling Unit Permits
In December 2023, Boise reformed its zoning code by removing owner-occupancy and parking requirements for ADUs. In just the first few months, ADU permit applications skyrocketed from an average of 3 per month to 27 per month—a nearly ninefold increase. These small rule changes led to 95 ADU applications in just 3.5 months, showing how fast cities can unlock affordable homes by easing red tape.
Denver, Colorado: Opening 70% of the City to ADUs
In 2024, Denver expanded ADU zoning citywide, increasing coverage from 36% to 70% of residential lots. The city now expects 200–300 new ADUs annually, building on a base of 500 permitted over the last decade.
Fort Worth, Texas: Cutting Red Tape to Build Faster
Fort Worth streamlined its approval process, making ADU construction faster and simpler. Homeowners no longer faced complicated zoning approvals and costly parking mandates. The city saw an immediate increase in these types of affordable homes, giving families and local workers more housing options right where they needed them.
Portland, Oregon: Skyrocketing ADU construction
Cities like Portland saw ADU construction skyrocket from just 30 per year to nearly 400 per year after easing zoning rules, demonstrating how practical these changes can be.
Seattle, Washington: 52% Year-Over-Year Growth
After lifting owner-occupancy and parking mandates in 2019, Seattle saw 970 ADUs built in 2023 alone—a 52% increase over the prior year. In total, the city has permitted over 4,000 ADUs since 2020, proving that smart reform drives real results.
Addressing Common Concerns About ADUs
Some residents have understandable questions about accessory dwelling units. Here’s what the research and real-world experiences show:
“Won’t these add too much parking or traffic?”
Not likely. Studies show that households living in ADUs own less than one car on average—half the national household rate. Many ADU residents are seniors, caregivers, or essential workers who already live or work nearby. This keeps neighborhood impact minimal.
“Will these change the look and feel of our neighborhood?”
ADUs are typically built to blend in. Whether it’s a converted garage, basement apartment, or a cottage behind the main house, these homes are small, discreet, and designed to match existing homes—not change the character of the neighborhood.
“Are these just a backdoor for developers?”
No. In most communities, ADUs are built by homeowners, not large developers. They’re often used to house family members, friends, or local workers.
“Will it lower property values?”
In fact, ADUs can increase property value by adding flexibility, usable space, and potential rental income. For many homeowners, they provide a financial cushion while also contributing to the community’s housing needs.
“Will this strain schools or local infrastructure?”
ADUs create housing in a gentle, incremental way—usually just one small home per lot. They support modest growth, helping towns evolve without large-scale development or infrastructure strain.
Why New Jersey Should Embrace Accessory Dwelling Units: A Better Future for Our Neighborhoods
Brett VA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
By welcoming accessory apartments—granny flats, garage apartments, or in-law suites—New Jersey can provide another tool to ensure affordable homes for everyone. These small, flexible homes help neighborhoods become more inclusive and vibrant while respecting the character residents cherish. Several municipalities in New Jersey have already taken proactive steps to include ADUs as part of their broader housing strategy:
- Princeton: In 2020, Princeton passed an ordinance allowing ADUs in residential zones. Since then, 38 ADUs have been built, providing more housing options while preserving neighborhood character.
- Maplewood: Adopted an ADU ordinance in 2020, permitting these units under specific conditions.
- Montclair: Implemented regulations allowing ADUs in designated residential zones, with specific requirements on size and occupancy.
- South Orange: In 2023, South Orange Village passed regulations permitting ADUs that meet certain conditions, expanding housing options for residents.
- Jersey City: The city has incorporated ADUs into its Master Plan, recognizing their potential to diversify housing options and alleviate shortages.
But instead of waiting for each municipality to take action, New Jersey can be bold. State-level reforms that would require other municipalities to adopt similar measures authorizing ADUs would expand affordable housing options on a larger scale, support multigenerational living, and enhance community resilience. Our state-level housing issues require comprehensive, state-level solutions. Let’s make room for this one solution already working well across America right here in New Jersey and welcome Accessory Dwelling Units into our neighborhoods.
Stubborn Seeds and Strong Foundations: What Armenian Resilience Teaches Us About Building Forward
April 22nd, 2025 by Benjamin Dziobek
Author Benjamin Dziobek, New Jersey Future community outreach specialist
April marks Armenian History Month, a time to honor the deep roots, resilience, and culture of the Armenian people. For many of us in the diaspora, especially here in New Jersey, this month reminds us to reflect on our ancestors’ strength and survival. It’s an opportunity to celebrate our contributions to this country and recommit to building a better future — one shaped by remembrance and justice.
From tight-knit communities in places like Ridgefield, Long Branch, and Tenafly to the quiet presence of Armenian names across public life, we’ve made our mark in this state. Being Armenian means carrying memory — not just of loss, but of perseverance. It means being rooted in culture, language, and tradition, even when so much was designed to strip it away. One line that’s stuck with me lately is the idea of a “stubborn seed” growing through cracks, against all odds, generation after generation. That’s what our families did when they arrived here. And that’s what so many immigrant communities continue to do in New Jersey.
That same resilience, the refusal to give up in the face of challenge, is what we need to face climate change today. Whether it’s flood-prone neighborhoods, aging water systems, or rising temperatures, our infrastructure and our communities are under pressure. But just like that stubborn seed, we have the power to grow through the cracks. The recently proposed Resilient Environment and Landscape rules proposed by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection are a good example of proactively pushing forward solutions that will make our communities and infrastructure more resilient to the increasing incidents of flooding. Climate and infrastructure resilience aren’t just buzzwords, they’re about ensuring every family, no matter their zip code, has access to clean water, safe streets, and a livable future. If we want to honor the legacy of those who came before us, we need to show up for the future of the places we call home. Resilience isn’t just about bouncing back — it’s about demanding better, and building systems that can withstand what’s next.
More Than Mailers: Keys to Effective Outreach and Communication for Lead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) in New Jersey Communities
April 1st, 2025 by New Jersey Future staff
By Deandrah Cameron, Policy Manager, and Ben Dziobek, Community Outreach Specialist
New Jersey Future’s Funding Navigator team has developed expertise in supporting water systems and municipal leaders in navigating the complexities of lead service line replacement (LSLR) funding, outreach, and communication. Meanwhile, the Jersey Water Works Lead Service Line Implementation Work Group and Lead-Free New Jersey address the technical and logistical aspects of LSLR. Effective communication and community outreach are critical aspects of a successful LSLR program. In this blog, we’ll highlight key strategies and best practices for communication and outreach that can improve participation rates and build customer trust.
Stakeholder Engagement and Education
A successful LSLR program requires a drinking water system to effectively communicate with customers, municipal leaders, community advocates, property owners, and occupants at every step in the replacement process, from inspection to post-replacement sampling. Lead affects the nervous system, and the impact can sometimes be hard to quantify and invisible. Customers may not understand the health implications if a lead service line serves their home or the importance of cooperating with inspections to determine the status of their service line, which could be a lead, copper, galvanized, or even a lead-lined galvanized pipe. Moreover, since water systems in New Jersey were not previously responsible for the customer portion of the line, service line inventories are mostly incomplete, and the service line composition is likely to be unknown. Communicating to residents about pending service line inspections and/or removal is crucial to increasing participation and consent, particularly regarding the customer-owned portion of a lead service line.
Effective and early communication ensures residents’ trust and confidence in the water system. As we’ve seen in crises like Flint, Michigan, or Newark, New Jersey, when there’s a high level of concern regarding lead in drinking water, customers may lose trust in the water system if key information is not relayed promptly. Drinking water systems need to educate customers, elected officials, and key stakeholders in a manner that empowers customers and key officials to take action. Beyond initial outreach, water systems should continue building trust and maintaining engagement through frequent, transparent, and consistent messaging.
Strategic Messaging and Outreach Campaigns
Direct communication in the customer’s preferred channel or method of communication is essential for consideration. Both paying and non-paying customers need to be informed about the risks associated with lead contamination, the benefits of LSLR, and the steps to ensure their waters’ safety. Direct communication through preferred channels helps build trust, address concerns, and encourage participation in the replacement process. Water systems must consider adapting their outreach strategies, which could differ across service areas, especially for systems serving multiple municipalities.
Thorough research and review of prior campaigns are necessary to increase the impact of outreach campaigns. Understanding lessons learned such as those shared in this new report, as well as identifying best practices, and assessing the success of different communication channels, can help refine strategies and improve customer engagement. Incorporating key service area demographics and preferred communication trends enables water systems to leverage these insights to improve future outreach efforts and meet communication targets. Engaging hard-to-reach populations is crucial in LSLR outreach campaigns. Certain population groups, based on culture, language barriers, location, or socioeconomic status, may lack access to or utilize different means of communication that don’t fit the general patterns the service area uses. For instance, some individuals may not use social media, have internet access, or speak the dominant language of the service area, making it challenging for them to receive critical information about LSLR. To effectively engage these populations, water systems must develop specialized outreach campaigns that cater to those unique needs and communication barriers.
In Atlantic City, the Funding Navigator team has taken a different approach to increasing response rates for lead service line identification by strategically designing mailers in multiple languages. Recognizing that regulatory lead notices often go overlooked, we combined them with a more visually engaging self-reporting form in a single mailing. By using bold colors as a visual cue for urgency and ensuring the materials were accessible to diverse communities, we made it easier for residents to understand the importance of checking their service lines and taking action. This “two-for-one” approach maximized efficiency—ensuring compliance while driving more participation in the self-reporting process.
Hard to Reach Populations
The importance of targeted outreach to hard-to-reach populations cannot be overstated, as lead exposure poses a significant public health risk. Identifying these populations and creating a tailored approach to delivering health education and replacement services is essential. This may involve partnering with community-based organizations, using culturally sensitive messaging, providing multilingual support, or leveraging alternative communication channels such as print media, community events, or door-to-door outreach. These proactive steps champion an inclusive approach to outreach. This way, water systems can ensure that all residents, regardless of their background or circumstances, receive the information and support they need to stay safe from lead contamination.
Well-established community groups play an essential role in disseminating information on local issues. They may cut across different population groups, including older people and immigrants who face language barriers. Building partnerships with organizations connected to hard-to-reach populations is crucial, enabling information delivery to individuals already within their network, fostering trust, and encouraging participation. The importance of partnership becomes especially instrumental for programs utilizing customer surveys to improve inventories. Additionally, employing a variety of delivery methods for information is crucial.
Effective Communication Methods
Door-to-door canvassing, for instance, allows for personalized interaction and can be particularly effective in reaching residents who may not have access to digital platforms. Choosing the right “messenger” is necessary to open the doors. Drinking water systems should think critically about partnering with community leaders and groups valued as trusted messengers and, most importantly, members of the communities they serve. Even so, other delivery methods offer distinct benefits, such as social media announcements, presentations, door hangers, flyers, posters, T-shirts, ads, and billboards. Social media announcements, for example, can rapidly disseminate information to a large audience, while visuals can enhance the message and capture attention. Town halls provide an opportunity for in-depth discussion and Q&A sessions. Multilingual door hangers, flyers, and posters offer a tangible, offline presence, while T-shirts and ads can serve as conversation starters. Billboards provide high-visibility messaging. By leveraging multiple delivery methods, community organizations can ensure their message reaches the widest possible audience, encouraging participation and driving engagement. Utilizing community surveys to prompt customers to self-identify lead service lines is a great way to educate consumers and accelerate lead service line inventories. Customer surveys may supplement traditional methods and prove particularly useful where there are challenges in accessing private property for lead service line inspections and replacements, such as rental units. Additionally, to maximize participation, consumers typically require instructional information on visually inspecting a service line or performing scratch tests. Community meetings are a great way to conduct such training and educational outreach.
New Brunswick: A Case Study in Community-Led Mapping
In New Brunswick, we’ve seen firsthand how student-led mapping initiatives can play a crucial role in addressing the challenges of lead service line replacement. Ensuring accurate service line inventories has been a persistent issue with so many rental properties and off-campus housing units. Many landlords and tenants were unaware of their pipe materials or hesitant to engage with municipal authorities.
To bridge this gap, NJDEP’s Watershed Ambassador Program, along with student volunteers from Rutgers University, in partnership with NJF’s Funding Navigator team and New Brunswick Municipal Utilities Authority (NBMUA), are taking the lead to begin conducting door-to-door outreach, surveying properties, and helping to identify and document lead pipes in these high-risk areas. Using simple tools like visual inspections and in-person resident surveys, students will collect crucial data that has the potential to accelerate data collection and foster deeper public trust.
Beyond mapping, the initiative also is an opportunity for education. Students are informing others of the risks of lead exposure, and helping residents understand the lead service line replacement process by connecting them with available resources. Their involvement has shown that when local communities, educational institutions, and advocacy groups collaborate, we can overcome barriers to participation and ensure that no household is left out of the replacement effort. With successful partnerships in New Brunswick, the Funding Navigator team is also working to expand this model to Stockton University Atlantic City.
Closing
Ensuring the success of lead service line replacement efforts requires more than just technical solutions—it demands strong community engagement, clear communication, transparency, and a commitment to equity. By learning from case studies like New Brunswick, where student involvement is helping to bridge gaps in data and outreach, and Atlantic City, where strategic, multilingual mailers increased self-reporting, municipalities can develop more effective, people-centered approaches. As New Jersey moves closer to its goal of replacing all lead pipes, the role of communities in shaping and supporting these efforts remains essential.
Breaking the Barrier to Water Infrastructure Funding
March 14th, 2025 by Jessika Sherman
The New Jersey Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRF) are critical financial resources that can provide a variety of funding and financing options, including principal forgiveness and low-interest loans, to support water infrastructure improvements across the state. These programs, established through federal and state partnerships, empower municipalities and drinking water and sewer systems to address essential projects, including wastewater treatment, stormwater, and drinking water initiatives. Through affordable financing and principal forgiveness, the SRFs enable communities to invest in crucial water infrastructure upgrades that improve public health and create resiliency to future challenges. These SRF programs have been largely successful. However, there are equity concerns regarding the types of communities that have been more successful in accessing this funding.
Funding doesn’t automatically reach the municipalities and water systems that need it, each system must navigate a complex application process. Understanding and applying for such a large-scale program can be daunting for small, resource-limited systems. In New Jersey Future’s and the Environmental Policy Innovation Center’s 2023 report, Improving a Program that Works: Recommendations to the New Jersey Water Bank for Advancing Equity, it was found that small communities have received a significantly smaller portion of SRF awards. These systems often face capacity limitations, making it a costly and time-consuming effort to submit a complete SRF application. This process requires performing an inventory analysis, financial analysis, gap analysis, and asset mapping — an intensive undertaking with no guaranteed funding outcome. The planning and design phases alone can cost several million dollars, posing a considerable financial risk for small systems.
Recognizing these barriers through its work with municipal leaders, water system staff, and coalitions, New Jersey Future launched the Funding Navigator program in 2023. This program is the first New Jersey statewide nonprofit initiative dedicated to helping New Jersey’s most underserved communities access water infrastructure funding. The Funding Navigator program supports municipalities and small—to mid-sized water systems by providing guidance throughout the application process, assisting with community outreach initiatives, and providing engineering support.
The Funding Navigator Program also collaborates with the following technical partners:
- New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
- New Jersey Infrastructure Bank
- Environmental Policy Innovation Center
- Syracuse University Environmental Finance Center
- Moonshot Missions
These partnerships enable the Funding Navigator program to provide technical assistance, such as sewage system collection mapping for asset management plans and lead line inventory services, as well as community outreach services, such as community engagement recommendations, public mailers, public education programs, and other services based on the community or water system’s needs.
The work starts with identifying communities that are underserved and disadvantaged. Typically, these are small systems and communities that meet the NJDEP’s affordability criteria and/or the highest distress scores under the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) municipal revitalization index (MRI). Communities that have not received any SRF funding in the past several years are top priorities. Jersey WaterCheck, an online dashboard that features data about the state’s drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems, offers important water system data that also helps us identify clean water systems and drinking water systems with known harmful bacteria, the number of known and unknown lead service lines, and how customer-friendly systems are.
By the end of 2024, The Funding Navigator program grew from 3 towns to partnering with 10 communities across the following eight counties:
- Atlantic
- Gloucester
- Hunterdon
- Mercer
- Middlesex
- Monmouth
- Sussex
- Warren
This growth underscores the critical need for targeted support to help municipalities and water systems overcome the challenges of accessing SRF funding. Looking ahead, the Funding Navigator program aims to further strengthen its reach by expanding technical assistance and building deeper relationships with underserved communities. By continuing this work, the program enhances access to critical financial resources and ensures that the SRF programs distribute funding to the communities that need them most.
To learn more about New Jersey Future’s Funding Navigator program, visit the website.
Designing Pedestrian-Friendly Spaces to Enhance Health and Accessibility for New Jersey’s Aging Population
March 13th, 2025 by Bethany Villa
As New Jersey’s population ages, one challenge stands out: how can we create an environment that supports the well-being of older adults, particularly in urban and suburban spaces? The built environment—our streets, sidewalks, and public areas—profoundly affects the health and independence of seniors. Yet many older residents, particularly in underserved communities, face significant barriers to mobility. The key findings from a new report, “The Hidden Impact of the Built Environment: Designing Pedestrian-Friendly Spaces for Enhanced Health and Accessibility for Elderly & Aging Populations in New Jersey,” highlight how New Jersey can design safer, more accessible pedestrian spaces to improve the quality of life for the state’s older adults.
The report reveals that poorly designed urban spaces, especially those that prioritize cars over pedestrians, negatively impact the physical and mental health of older adults. Streets without safe crosswalks, sidewalks, or adequate lighting contribute to physical inactivity, a major risk factor for chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Additionally, limited access to parks or social spaces exacerbates feelings of isolation, which can lead to mental health challenges such as depression and anxiety. Conversely, communities with well-designed pedestrian infrastructure promote physical activity, social engagement, and overall well-being, helping older adults maintain their independence for longer.
In response to these issues, the report outlines a series of recommendations for improving New Jersey’s built environment to better support its aging population. First, the state should implement specific guidelines for pedestrian-friendly design that cater to the needs of older adults, ensuring that streets and public areas are safe and navigable. A second proposal is creating a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) tool* to help policymakers evaluate the health outcomes of urban development projects, particularly how they affect seniors. Lastly, the report advocates for a statewide Age-Friendly Communities Initiative,* drawing inspiration from successful local models like Montclair’s efforts to enhance pedestrian infrastructure and increase transportation options for older adults.
By focusing on these strategies, New Jersey can create a more inclusive and supportive environment for its aging population. Improved pedestrian infrastructure and a focus on health outcomes in urban planning will not only benefit seniors but also contribute to a healthier, more vibrant community overall. As the 65+ population in the state continues to grow, now is the time to act—ensuring that New Jersey’s built environment enhances the mobility, independence, and quality of life of its older residents.
*New Jersey Future notes:
- Statewide Age-Friendly Communities Initiative: New Jersey has three robust age-friendly initiatives. Age-Friendly North Jersey and the Age-Friendly State Policy Committee (convened by New Jersey Future) are a connected cross-sectoral network of organizations committed to advancing the Age-Friendly movement across part or all of the Garden State. Lifelong Strong NJ is a third connected advocacy campaign to enlist the next governor as a champion who will ensure all New Jerseyans can thrive in the Garden State as we age.
- Health Impact Assessment: While not official state government policies, Sustainable Jersey, a policy center at The College of New Jersey, has prepared several documents for use by municipal leaders in assessing the aging-friendliness of their town and taking steps to improve conditions for older residents:
- The Complete and Green Streets for All Action focuses on streets and sidewalks and their role in addressing the mobility needs of all users, including older adults.
- The Local Health Assessment and Action Plan is the foundational action for municipalities seeking the Gold Star in Health (an additional recognition the program awards).
- The Community Design for All Ages Action provides several options for municipalities to improve the built environment to accommodate the design needs of older adults.
- The Integrating Health Into Municipal Decision Making Action asks the municipality to complete a Municipal “Health in All Policies” checklist to review internal procedures in municipal operations, as well as a review of a particular policy, program, or plan to assess how health and health equity are being considered in the decision making process.
Bethany Villa, Princeton University Class of 2026, prepared this report as a project for a fall 2024 undergraduate course entitled Critical Perspectives in Global Health Policy, taught by Heather Howard in Princeton’s School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA). Tim Evans, New Jersey Future’s Research Director, served as Bethany’s client and external advisor for the project.
