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New Jersey’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund could face what some advocates say is another raid on its dedicated fund in the coming fiscal year if Gov. Phil Murphy’s budget is adopted as drafted by lawmakers.
Administration officials say they do not consider the proposed use of $20 million from the fund for the NJ Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency’s (HMFA) Down Payment Assistance program as a raid. That program provides a $10,000 interest-free forgivable loan to first-time homebuyers in the state to cover a down payment and closing costs. There is an income cap to qualify, but it’s 140% of the area’s median income, which is not limited to a single county. Trust-fund money is supposed to build or support homes for those with no more than 80% of the median income.
Many of us value the wonderful work being done here in Mercer County by HomeFront, the organization helping homeless families break the cycle of poverty.
Last week, during this time of tremendous economic distress and in the midst of a pandemic, HomeFront offered us an antidote – daily events, volunteer opportunities, and ways of connecting with our neighbors during its annual “Week of Hope.”
Those of us who took part learned about the daunting challenges facing so many families, and about the resulting increase in hunger and homelessness in every community in our county, from Trenton to Hamilton to Princeton. We know how expensive housing is in our region a person earning the minimum wage has to work almost three full-time jobs to be able to afford the average two-bedroom rental in New Jersey. This is difficult enough, but the pandemic has erased so many job opportunities, leaving families stranded and facing the loss of their housing.
Common calendar, Packet papers, February 12
Common calendar, Packet papers, February 12
French American School Princeton (FASP) is accepting enrollment.
At FASP, students in preschool (3 years old) through grade 8 benefit from a rigorous bilingual curriculum accredited by the Middle State Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools and the French Ministry of Education; personalized attention thanks to small class sizes; and a multicultural community with more than 30 nationalities represented.
FAPS is located at 75 Mapleton Road, Princeton.
McCarter Theatre Center presents Fireside Chats to “spark” conversation in the community.
Filmed on the front lawn of the Princeton theater, student activities, Pulitzer Prize-winners, local business owners and others are interviewed by Artistic Director Sarah Rasmussen.
Common calendar, Packet papers, February 5
Common calendar, Packet papers, February 5
Ongoing
Princeton University Concerts (PUC) is expanding its digital offerings for the remainder of the 2020-21 season to replace planned in-person concerts, many of which will be rescheduled to future seasons.
The university’s performing arts series has recast all of its virtual programming to directly address socially relevant topics. This includes: a new podcast series, Breathe in Music, bringing PUC’s popular Live Music Meditation series to a digital format; a new series of conversations with musicians and prominent arts thinkers about the impact of COVID-19 on the performing arts hosted by multidisciplinary artist and WNYC host Helga Davis; the release of new video episodes of mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato’s Sing for Today, in which the opera star responds to current events through the lens of song and conversations; and virtual performances and live Q&As with world-renowned musicians