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Affordable Housing Background Info & History

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The affordable housing or Mount Laurel doctrine, started with the 1975 decision by the N.J. Supreme Court involving the Township of Mount Laurel (So. Burl. Cty. N.A.A.C.P v. Tp. of Mt. Laurel, 67 N.J. 151 (1975) or “Mount Laurel I”).

In Mount Laurel I, the Supreme Court decided that under the State Constitution, each municipality “must, by its land use regulations, make realistically possible the opportunity for an appropriate variety and choice of housing for all categories of people who may desire to live there”, including those of low and moderate income. Thus, the Mount Laurel I decision prohibits municipalities from using zoning powers to prevent the potential for the development of affordable housing.

Click here to download the full document with the entire background and history of Affordable Housing.