Housing units tagged for veterans, senior citizens, grandparents get key approval
LOS ANGELES: A unique housing project will house a mix of veterans, seniors over 55 and grandparents of any age.
The Paterson City Council has voted in favor of supporting the Lafayette Affordable Village, a proposed mixed-use affordable housing project aimed at providing stable housing and community resources for some of the city’s most vulnerable populations.
The development, proposed by Ania Management and Jump Start Community Training & Services Inc., will be located at 191 Lafayette Street and will feature 139 units of affordable housing. The units will be designated for veterans, seniors over 55, grandparents raising grandchildren, single mothers and fathers, and young adults.
Beyond housing, the Lafayette Affordable Village will include the Jumpstart Community Multipurpose Resource Center, which will offer vital support services such as assistance with social security benefits, SNAP (food assistance) applications, unemployment support, and job training and workforce development.
Council members emphasized the importance of the project in addressing the ongoing housing crisis in Paterson. Councilwoman-at-Large Maritza Davila praised the initiative for bringing together different organizations to create an inclusive housing development that serves diverse community needs.
“I have not seen this type of project within the city of Paterson that combines all of these populations,” Davila said. “I support this letter of support so they can go out and obtain those funds to move forward with this project.”
The Lafayette Affordable Village will rely on funding from the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Program, which is facilitated by the New Jersey Housing & Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA). The funding application deadline is April 4, 2025. The City Council’s approval of the resolution is a key step in securing these necessary funds.
While the council largely supported the initiative, First Ward Councilman Michael Jackson took the opportunity to highlight past failures in Paterson’s approach to affordable housing.
“Our city is suffering because of the decision-making happening here,” Jackson said. “We have allowed third-party investors to take over our housing, and we have sold out the Paterson Housing Authority. We need to provide low-income, affordable, clean housing to give families the opportunities to lift themselves up.”
Despite these concerns, Jackson ultimately voted in favor of the resolution, acknowledging the project’s potential benefits.
Councilwoman-at-Large Dr. Lilisa Mimms stressed the importance of community-driven projects and recognized Jamie Bland, a key figure in developing the initiative. Bland has been instrumental in providing resources and opportunities to Paterson residents, particularly young people.
“We are here to vote on solutions, and this is one of them,” Mimms said. “We need more projects like this that support our residents and lift up our community.”
By supporting this resolution, developers are allowed to move forward with their funding application.