A2: How New Jersey’s Affordable Housing Framework Is Shaping Senior and Supportive Housing
Tuesday, June 16 | 1:45 PM - 2:45 PM
Target Audience: Affordable Senior Housing, Service Coordinators, Governance & Leadership, Marketing
New Jersey’s nationally recognized affordable housing framework – rooted in the Mount Laurel Doctrine – has made the state a leader in expanding housing opportunities for low- and moderate -income residents. As New Jersey’s population ages, this framework presents a critical and often underutilized opportunity to create affordable, accessible housing that allows older adults to age safely and independently in their communities. This session will explore how the Mount Laurel Doctrine and the state’s fair share housing system have driven affordable housing production across New Jersey, including growing opportunities for affordable senior and supportive housing in communities of all types. Panelists from Fair Share Housing Center, New Jersey Future, and the Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey will discuss how local land-use decisions, zoning reforms, and supportive housing models can be aligned with aging-in-place goals – particularly for older adults on fixed incomes. The discussion will highlight how New Jersey’s housing framework has helped overcome exclusionary zoning, expand housing choice, and create pathways for senior housing near transit, services, and health care. Participants will also examine how aging services providers can engage with housing planning and policy to ensure that new affordable housing developments meet the needs of older adults.
NAB/NCERS; HUD
Speaker Information
Director of Communications, Fair Share Housing Center
Jag provides nonprofit political advocacy organizations with strategic communications support to build organizational capacity and win policy changes that stand the test of time. For over two decades, he has played a leadership role in bringing crucial issues from the fringes of U.S. politics to the mainstream. Jag previously served as Director of Communications for the Fines and Fees Justice Center, where he helped lead passage of dozens of local and state reforms to end the criminalization of poverty. Before that, Jag served for 10 years as Director of Communications Strategy and in other positions at the Drug Policy Alliance, the nation’s leading organization working to end the war on drugs. He also previously served as Director of Communications and in other positions at MAPS and as Policy Researcher for the ACLU.
Executive Director, Supportive Housing Association of NJ
Kate Kelly joined the staff of Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey (SHA) in 2021 to spearhead the Integrated Community Project and began leading SHA as Executive Director in January 2025. Throughout her career she has brought people together, increased the engagement of people with lived experience, and strengthened engagement among all sectors, individual, civic, and service organizations in communities. SHA is statewide, membership and nonprofit organization, founded in 1998, whose mission is to promote and maintain a strong supportive housing industry in New Jersey serving people with special needs. Before joining SHA, Kate’s recent efforts at the Housing Alliance of PA increased voter engagement and prior work with Partnerships for Strong Communities in Connecticut increased supportive housing opportunities. Her nine years as public policy associate at Monarch Housing included directing public policy, advocacy and public relations dedicated to ending homelessness and expanding the supply and accessibility of affordable housing. Kate holds a Bachelor’s in Government from the University of Notre Dame and a Master’s in Social Work from the UCONN School of Social Work.
Policy Manager, Housing and Land Use, NJ Future
Helen works to advance New Jersey Future’s land use and housing policy agenda, including the priorities of the Great Homes and Neighborhoods for All initiative, and policies that advance age-friendly communities. Helen began her advocacy career as a labor union organizer and served as lead organizer of New Jersey’s redistricting reform campaign, Fair Districts NJ. Helen also worked as a Policy & Planning Specialist in the Commissioner’s Office at the NJ Department of Community Affairs. Helen holds a B.A. in Sociology from Boston University and a Master’s in Public Administration with a focus on community development from Rutgers, where she was also a Graduate Fellow at the Eagleton Institute of Politics.
