In anticipation of the completion of 58 affordable housing units in Lakewood, Rabbi Shmuel Lefkowitz, the president of NJ Hand, has announced that a public lottery to determine who will be eligible to purchase the newly constructed three- and four-bedroom units will take place Wednesday, March 14, 2012, at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium of the Lakewood Municipal Building, 231 Third Street, Lakewood.
Ervin Oross, the community development director of Lakewood and the president of Rehabco, the company that runs housing and community development programs, said that those individuals who had completed applications for this phase of affordable housing received a letter with a lottery ball number in it. Oross said, “The call for applications was advertized in all the media, including the Hispanic newspapers so everyone would have an equal opportunity to apply for the affordable housing units. We received 1,000 applications for three- and four-bedroom units. It looks as though we have 600 applications for the four-bedroom units and 300 for the three-bedroom units.”
The public and the applicants who received a lottery number are invited to the March 14 lottery selection. A Bingo cage containing wooden bingo balls will automatically pick the numbered balls and shoot them out. After the selection of 60 people who have applied for three-bedroom units and another 60 people who have applied for four-bedroom units, the winners will be carefully screened to make sure they meet all criteria to own an affordable housing unit. Winners do not have to be present; they will be notified of their selection by mail.
Oross said, “Thanks to the land donated by the Lakewood Township Committee to three not-for-profit developers – NJ HAND, NJ STEPS/Homes for All, the Lakewood Affordable Housing Corporation – we are able to provide housing for those who would never be able to afford it.” TLS.
We have a 1000 applications for the 3 and 4 bedroom houses it looks like we have 600 for the 4 Bedroom and 300 for the 3 bedroom???? That’s only 900 somebody started drinking early this year!!!
I dont understand. if there are 58 units why are they picking 120 people for the drawing?
Can someone out there please explain this.
If there are only 58 units available, why are they picking 60 people for 3 bedrooms and 60 people for 4 bedrooms = 120!!!
They are picking extra so that if/ when people decide not to proceed or can’t get financing there is a ready waiting list of eligible people in order of selection.
I think because some people don’t qaulify for a mortgage or just back out.
So that means there are 300 people competing for 30 three bedroom houses? 1 in 10 wins!!
thank the tax payer( me)
I dont mean this in any racist way so please do not take it the wrong way. In lakewood, most developments are segregated. The orthodox jews live in strictly jewish developments, and the hispanics live in their areas. How is this going to work, I cant see this development being mixed, is there going to be favoritism in assigning this to certain groups?
whats the pricing
dont understand the big deal other tax payers will be ubsidizing these houses
To Question (8:26pm): the lottery is open and fair for all to see-if you would have been at the last lottery you’d see what I mean. No favoritism, just old fashioned drawing numbered balls from a machine. The room was full of people from all communities. And as for groups of people throughout lakewood in general living amongst their “own,” I think this is just the natural tendency of people to gravitate toward people that are similar in beliefs, culture, values, etc since that is more comfortable.
To Hi and lakewood: actually the taxpayer is subsidizing $0 (no amount) this time around- due to the poor economy, apparently no government funds were available this time, state or otherwise. That’s why the prices will probably be higher than the last time. The town did donate the land many years ago, if you consider that subsidizing, but no tax money is being used to build these houses. It’s being built by a non-profit… so that shaves a chunk off the cost from what a regular developer would want to profit.
lets eee who gets all the housing. We have mnay families already living in Lakewood who need homes. This lottery should be for people already living in lakewood.
This is the best way to hold this event
Does anyone know if real estate taxes are assessed at the sale price or fair market price? No one can afford the real estate taxes in New Jersey. Affordable housing in NJ is non-existent.