Housing Solutions to Move New Jersey Forward - NJLM 2023

At this year’s New Jersey State League of Municipalities Annual Conference, Mayor Ras J. Baraka hosted an informative session to address New Jersey’s housing challenges. During this session, panelists discussed what is affordable housing- and why New Jersey does not have enough of it.
Through Newark’s Newark360 master plan, Mayor Baraka has implemented innovative plans to address the housing crisis and rent increases in the city of Newark. Mayor Baraka and panel experts to talked
about the efforts Newark has taken to address housing and how all levels of government and partnerships with philanthropy, developers, non- profits, and residents can work collectively to address this issue.
Additionally, the panel discussed how the State can support city’s efforts to create affordable housing
and ways cities can be innovative in their approach to address housing.
Mayor Baraka was joined by:
•Staci Berger, President & CEO, Housing & Community Development Network of NJ
•Alicka Ampry-Samuel, Regional Administrator - Region II, U.S Dept. of Housing and Urban Development
•Melanie R. Walter Executive Director, New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA)
•Luis Ulerio, Homelessness Czar, City of Newark
•Beverly Brown Ruggia, Financial Justice Program Director, New Jersey Citizen Action