Hathaway proposes federal relief for towns facing housing mandates

Republican congressional nominee Joe Hathaway is proposing a federal program to help municipalities cover the costs of population growth associated with state affordable housing requirements.

Hathaway’s proposed High-Density Housing Relief Act would make federal funding available to municipalities experiencing significant population growth from new housing obligations, with the money going toward school expansion, police, fire and EMS services, and infrastructure improvements.

“When hundreds of new housing units are coming into a community, somebody has to figure out what that means for the schools, the fire department, the roads, and the water and sewer systems, and who is going to pay for it,” Hathaway said in a statement Monday.

“This is the kind of practical problem I want to solve in Congress because representing a district should be about understanding what your communities actually need, not fighting over political ideology all day.”

Hathaway, who served as Randolph mayor during the township’s fourth-round planning process and has served on the township council since 2022, said his proposal draws on his experience navigating the state’s affordable housing requirements.

Randolph ultimately reached an agreement establishing a prospective need obligation of 28 units, down from the state’s initial figure of 355, a 92% reduction. Hathaway’s campaign said the process saved township taxpayers more than $1.1 million.

New Jersey’s fourth round of affordable housing obligations began after legislation signed by Gov. Phil Murphy in 2024 established a new framework for municipalities to determine their requirements. The law directs municipalities to calculate their obligations using a formula that includes factors such as income capacity, equalized nonresidential valuation and land capacity. Calculations by the state Department of Community Affairs are non-binding and serve as guidance for municipalities planning affordable housing development.

Hathaway’s proposal would not eliminate the state’s housing requirements. Instead, it would provide federal assistance to municipalities that meet a threshold for unusually large population growth resulting from new housing obligations.

Eligibility would be determined by a formula examining a municipality’s historical population growth and the projected population impact of its new housing obligations.

Funding would be directed to three areas: expanding schools to accommodate increased enrollment; hiring and equipping police, firefighters and EMS personnel, including equipment needed to respond to new multistory buildings; and improving roads, water systems and sewer capacity.

The proposal comes as Hathaway seeks a rematch with Democratic Rep. Analilia Mejia (D-Glen Ridge) in the November general election.

Hathaway first launched his congressional campaign last year against then-Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair), as Sherrill was mounting her campaign for governor.

Mejia defeated Hathaway in an April special election to serve the remainder of Sherrill’s term, winning 60% to 40%. Both candidates subsequently secured their parties’ nominations for a full term in November.

Hathaway has emphasized his local government experience as a central theme of his congressional campaign.

“I want to bring that local perspective to Washington and focus on getting things done for NJ-11,” Hathaway said.