john powell's 11.15 Presentation

Regional Contribution Agreements

Top 5 cities sending affordable housing:

Wayne
Holmdel
Bernards
Par-Troy
Warren

Top 5 cities receiving affordable housing:

New Brunswick
Newark
Trenton
Paterson
Phillipsburg

Trenton Transfers of Affordable Housing Regional Contract Agreements
12/9/92 to 9/06/00
Receiving Municipality	Units Transferred to:	Transfer Approved in Dollars	Minority %	Poverty %
Trenton	664	$13,018,500	63.5	17.1

Sending Municipality	Units Transferred From	Transfer Approved in Dollars	Minority %	Poverty %
East Windsor Twp	40	$800,000	18.1	3.3
Hamilton	69	$793,500	10.1	3.7
Holmden	71	$1,595,000	13.5	2.2
Hopewell Twp	148	$3,110,000	7.5	2.8
Lawrence Twp	98	$1,960,000	15.6	3.4
Marlboro Twp	121	$2,420,000	.11.8	1.7
Princeton Twp	23	$460,000	19.1	6.0
Washington Twp	28	$560,000	6.4	2.9
West Windsor	66	$1,320,000	20.2	3.0

Sources: 1990 U.S. Census (for population in poverty); 2000 Council on Affordable Housing (data on receiving and sending municipalities).

Sources: 1990 U.S. Census (for African American population); 2000 Council on Affordable Housing (data on receiving and sending municipalities).

Rich New Jersey municipalities pay a segregation "tax"

Rationales for paying the tax:

It protects property values.
It prevents overcrowded schools.
It limits traffic and safety problems.

But , studies have shown that affordable rental housing:

does not harm, and sometimes improves, property values.
alleviates more of the burden on schools than single-family homes do.
does not create greater traffic and safety concerns than are created by other housing or developments.

The Fair Housing Act
does not address sprawl

From 1950-1990, suburban sprawl consumed land at about 5 times the rate of population increase.
Since 1950 Trenton lost 34% of its population.
The city’s population loss accounted for 30% of suburban gains.

Source: Remarks of David Rusk, Trenton and Princeton, April 5-6, 2000

What if Mercer County were one desegregated school district?

What if Mercer County were one desegregated school district?
	More desegregated than city-based districts. Stable and extensive desegregation in predominately middle-class schools. Increased housing integration. Long term district desegregation corresponds to a lower level of housing segregation.

Conclusion: Fragmentation undermines equity and regionalism goals

The Challenge:

Adopt initiatives that reinforce a regional approach.

Engage in economic development, housing, education, employment, and transportation-oriented efforts that improve the health of the entire region.

Assess and act upon the needs of low-income communities of color.

Specific Steps to meet the Challenge
	Make planning inclusive. Amend Fair Share to remove fragmentation and put equity first. Link housing and education. Recognize the connection of employment, transportation, and housing. Decrease disparities in the tax bases of municipalities. Stop sprawl and white flight to the suburbs.

Visit our web site at http:/www1/umn.edu/irp

Home • What's New • About IRP • Best Practices • Maps • Research • Services
Links • Coming Events • Current Topics • Newsletters • News & Articles
Organization & Staff • Employment Opportunities • Your Suggestions & Ideas

University of Minnesota Law School • 415 Law Center 229 19th Avenue South • Minneapolis, MN 55455
Telephone: (612) 625-8071 • Fax: (612) 624-8890

e-mail: irp@tc.umn.edu • Internet: http://www1.umn.edu/irp

What is the Problem?
Social and racial inequalities are geographically inscribed.
There is a polarization between the rich and the poor that is directly related to the areas in which they live.