H2M provided comprehensive Affordable Housing Services to municipalities throughout the state of New Jersey to comply with communities’ legal obligation to build affordable housing.
One aspect of a municipality’s affordable housing obligation is it’s “rehabilitation obligation.” As Affordable Housing planners for the Township of Little Falls, New Jersey, we undertook a town-wide property survey to determine the municipality’s statutory obligations of the affordable housing.
To estimate the number of units in need of rehabilitation in the community, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs has developed a standard Exterior Housing Survey to be used for the analysis. Only structures that are more than 50 years old are eligible for the survey. We used this form and conducted windshield surveys of approximately 1,800 properties in three days. We also used GIS applications to prepare our field staff for proper recording during the exterior survey process.
Structure exteriors were evaluated on the condition of three major and three minor systems. Major systems included the foundation; weatherization (i.e. windows, doors, siding, and walls); and the roof and chimney. Minor systems included eaves, soffits, gutters, leaders, rails, the steps, the porch, and the fire escape. If at least one major system or two minor systems are noted as needing repair, the structure is considered substandard.
The information gathered was compiled into a database and resulted in Little Fall’s housing rehabilitation obligation for its Housing Element and Fair Share Plan.
