Burlington Review

Federal Housing Officials from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recently visited Burlington County to tour the Housing Hub and discuss affordable housing initiatives. Dr. Kimberly McClain, HUD’s Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations, and Alicka Ampry-Samuel, HUD’s regional administrator for New Jersey and New York, joined local officials for the visit.

During the tour, the officials praised the efforts of the county in addressing housing insecurity and homelessness. Commissioner Director Felicia Hopson highlighted the county's commitment to combating housing insecurity, stating, “No resident should be forced to live unsheltered or without permanent safe, sufficient housing and our Board has made combating housing insecurity and homelessness a priority.”

The Housing Hub, established in 2019, serves as a central point for residents in need of housing assistance. It offers a variety of supportive services, including emergency sheltering, housing placement, mortgage assistance, and utility support. In 2023, the Housing Hub assisted over 2,800 clients with nearly 10,300 services.

One of the successful programs highlighted during the visit was the Burlington County First-Time Homebuyers Program. The program provides financial aid to income-eligible homebuyers for downpayments, closing costs, and interest reduction. Recent changes to the program, including increased assistance amounts and loan forgiveness options, have made homeownership more accessible to low- and moderate-income families. Since the program's inception, 56 homebuyers have received assistance, with 31 benefiting from the program changes announced last year.

The visit concluded with a roundtable meeting between federal housing administrators and county officials to further discuss the Housing Hub and other housing assistance programs in the county. The collaboration and support from HUD have played a crucial role in enhancing affordable housing opportunities for residents in Burlington County.