Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights (DCR) have reached a settlement with the City of Hoboken to resolve allegations that a local affordable housing policy discriminated based on race, violating the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD).
The issue stemmed from Hoboken’s 2019 Municipal Ordinance Amendment B-175, which prioritized current city residents for affordable housing over applicants from a broader four-county region—Hudson, Bergen, Passaic, and Sussex counties. The DCR began investigating after receiving a complaint from a Black resident of Jersey City who said she was not allowed to apply for an affordable unit in Hoboken despite being on the waitlist for five years.
As part of the agreement, Hoboken will amend its ordinance to remove the city-only residency requirement. The city will revert to giving preference to individuals and families within COAH Region 1 counties. This change applies to new units built to meet Hoboken’s affordable housing obligations between 2025 and 2035 under state law.
The settlement also includes measures such as reinstating waitlist positions for those previously denied or skipped due to the residency rule, allowing some removed applicants another chance at eligibility if they originally applied before the ordinance change, screening these applicants for available units if eligible, allocating at least $30,000 toward affordability assistance and fair housing projects or training, and requiring staff involved in affordable housing administration to complete training on discrimination laws.
“Housing discrimination continues to deny too many New Jerseyans the opportunity to access safe, affordable housing. That’s why I have made combating housing discrimination a priority since day one,” said Attorney General Platkin. “The agreement announced today will make it easier for eligible low-income people to access affordable housing in a part of our state where rents are skyrocketing and affordable housing opportunities are at a premium. This settlement underscores our ongoing commitment to ensuring that affordable housing is available – free from discrimination – to those who need it.”
“Discrimination has no place in affordable housing policy. Ensuring equitable access to affordable housing is fundamental and a critical component of building inclusive communities,” said Yolanda N. Melville, DCR Director. “This settlement is a significant step forward in our mission to promote equal access to housing for all New Jersey residents. We are committed to continuing our work across the state to foster environments where everyone has the opportunity to live in safe, affordable homes, without facing any form of discrimination. We thank Hoboken for working with DCR to resolve this matter.”
DCR officials noted that their investigation focused on whether Hoboken’s residency preference had an unlawful disparate impact—a form of discrimination under LAD—by disproportionately excluding applicants from racially diverse neighboring towns.
The Division on Civil Rights enforces several anti-discrimination laws in New Jersey aimed at preventing bias-based harassment and ensuring equal treatment in employment, public accommodations, and especially in areas like fair housing.
