By Charley Falkenburg, Staff Writer
WEST WINDSOR The Township Council officially adopted its affordable housing spending plan on June 11, which has secured the $1.6 million in West Windsor’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
The town is one of many that have been scrambling to put a spending plan in place before the July 17 deadline to prevent the state from seizing unspent Affordable Housing Trust money.
”The $1.6 million in the trust fund is not your tax money, it’s money that has already been collected by people developing projects it’s collected by us for use by us,” said Jean Jacobsohn, the chair of the Affordable Housing Committee. “It’s important this money stays in the township and be used for projects in this township.”
The approved plan consists of allocating the money toward four contracted components: the Foreclosure Program, Project Freedom, the Hamlet Energy Efficiency Program and the replacement of hot water heaters and heating and air conditioning units at Windsor Haven, Windsor Ponds and Village Grande.
The remaining funds would be used to pay staff salaries and consultant fees for the administration of the affordable housing program.
Each element, including the administration fund, will have separate escrow accounts to ensure the money is committed and available for the township.
”While ‘committed’ has not been defined by the Council on Affordable Housing, in my opinion, contracting for the expenditure of trust fund money commits that money for Council on Affordable Housing purposes,” said Gerald Muller, the town’s planning attorney.
As in previous years money for the foreclosure program will work as a revolving fund. This means that when the township buys, renovates and resells foreclosed affordable units, any extra money in sale proceeds will replenish the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
Project Freedom will use a $250,000 grant for infrastructure improvements. The particular contract in place will take care of the construction of at least 70 to 84 low- to moderate-income units on 10 acres of the Maneely tract. The grant money will be used once the land is subdivided and West Windsor finalizes a sales agreement with Project Freedom.
Should the plans fall through, the grant would be given to another non-profit affordable housing provider.
Up to $475,000 will see that all 61 units in the Hamlet, an all-affordable senior housing project, receive high efficiency heating and air conditioning units to address ongoing heat distribution issues and high utility bills.
”The result will be improved habitability of the units, significantly lower utility costs and the advancement of the township’s sustainability goals,” said Mr. Muller.
This particular contract requires the Hamlet owner to pay at least one-quarter of the project costs and follow specific steps in the project process, all of which must be approved by the township.
Windsor Haven, Windsor Ponds and Village Grande are allotted $775,000, which will also be used to replace hot water heaters and air conditioning systems at least 10 years old to reduce utility bills.
Homeowners will be notified when they are eligible for an $8,000 grant from the project fund. The owner is required to apply to at least three contractors from a PSE&G approved list for Windsor Haven and Windsor Ponds, JCP&L for Village Grande or a list maintained by North American Technician Excellence.
There will be no contracts between the township and contractors to ensure West Windsor has no liability for any of the installations at the Hamlet, Windsor Haven, Windsor Ponds and Village Grande.
”An operating principle for these programs is that the township is not getting into the home improvement business,” said Mr. Muller.
Mr. Muller explained the township opted for the energy efficiency programs to meet the short-term affordability assistance requirement. The requirement comprises one-third of the development fees with one-third designated for very low-income households.
To satisfy the very low-income household requirement, the town proposed Project Freedom grant to be considered very low-income affordability assistance.
Mr. Muller said the Council of Affordable Housing accepted both suggestions when it approved the spending plan on May 22.
The next step is to submit the plan to the state, which will allow the township to start on the various projects.

