News

December 12, 2024

Navigating Eviction Prevention: Insights from HUD’s Latest Report

By Dante Lara, Housing Manager at The Waterfront Project, Inc. Affordable housing has become a nationwide crisis with devastating impacts, and the effects are particularly evident here in New Jersey. In Hudson County alone, homelessness has increased by a staggering 27% in 2024, according to NJ.com. This multifaceted issue affects millions of individuals and families—mentally, physically, and financially—and demands urgent attention and action. As Housing Manager at The Waterfront Project,…

November 21, 2024

RWJBarnabas Health Offers Name Change Services for Transgender and Non-Binary Community Members

Original Article: RWJBarnabas Health Offers Name Change Services For Transgender and Non-Binary Community Members Livingston, NJ, November 20, 2024 – RWJBarnabas Health is pleased to offer the Name Change Clinic, providing transgender and non-binary community members legal advice, services and guidance to legally affirm their names. RWJBarnabas Health, in partnership with Legal Services of New Jersey and with volunteer support from The Waterfront Project, will provide legal advice through the Name Change…

November 20, 2024

A Rebuttal to Michael P. Hussar’s Letter “Rent Control Isn’t Needed and Will Only Reduce the Supply of Housing”

By Carol Sainthilaire As the Executive Director of The Waterfront Project, Inc., I must respectfully but firmly disagree with the recent opinion piece published in the Jersey City Times, which claims rent control is unnecessary and harmful to housing supply. This perspective ignores the reality of housing insecurity faced by thousands of residents in Jersey City and beyond. The Reality of Housing in Jersey City The author argues that Jersey City’s current housing…

August 29, 2024

How Philadelphia’s Right to Counsel is Bucking the Nationwide Surge in Evictions—and Why New Jersey Should Follow Suit

By Carol M. Sainthilaire, Executive Director of The Waterfront Project. As the nation grapples with an unprecedented surge in evictions, one city is defying the trend: Philadelphia. According to a recent article in The Wall Street Journal, Philadelphia’s success in keeping eviction rates low can be largely attributed to its groundbreaking Right to Counsel program, which ensures that low-income tenants have access to legal representation when facing eviction. This initiative is…

The Misuse of Nuisance Property Laws: A Threat to Housing Stability and Tenant Rights

By Carol M. Sainthilaire, Executive Director of The Waterfront Project At The Waterfront Project, our mission is to protect and empower tenants, ensuring that everyone has access to safe, stable housing. A recent article from USA Today highlights a growing concern that directly impacts our work: the misuse of nuisance property laws by landlords, a practice that threatens housing stability and undermines tenant rights. This issue is not only a…

August 27, 2024

Debunking Common Myths About Homelessness: A Focus on Housing, Not Misconceptions

By Carol M. Sainthilaire, Executive Director of The Waterfront Project At The Waterfront Project, we are committed to addressing homelessness with clarity and compassion, grounded in facts and a deep understanding of the root causes. Recently, Jonathan Russell, Director of Alameda County Health, Housing, and Homelessness Services, shared a powerful reflection on LinkedIn that sheds light on the widespread misconceptions surrounding homelessness—misconceptions that have significant real-world consequences. The Politics of…

August 26, 2024

The Impact of the Supreme Court Ruling on Homelessness: A Call for Compassionate Housing Solutions

By: Carol M. Sainthilaire, Executive Director at The Waterfront Project At The Waterfront Project, we believe that housing is a fundamental human right. Recent developments in the fight for fair housing have brought this belief into sharper focus, as the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on homelessness has sent ripples through communities and advocacy groups nationwide. This ruling, which allows local governments to criminalize homelessness even where no shelter options are…

July 29, 2024

Ending Evictions and Homelessness in New Jersey: Lessons from Just Cause Eviction Laws in Oregon and Washington State

By Carol M. Sainthilaire, Executive Director at The Waterfront Project, Inc. On July 25th , the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s (NLIHC) State and Local Innovation (SLI) project released an insightful case study on just cause eviction laws, highlighting successful efforts in Oregon and Washington State. This publication is a part of NLIHC’s State and Local Tenant Protection Series: A Primer on Renters’ Rights, aimed at shaping the conversation about state and local…

July 11, 2024

Hailing the Successes of WinnCompanies’ Eviction Prevention Program: Lessons for New Jersey

By Carol Sainthilaire At The Waterfront Project, we believe in the transformative power of housing stability. We have been inspired by the recent efforts of WinnCompanies, one of the largest affordable housing operators, and their eviction prevention program. Despite the challenges faced, their initiative has provided valuable insights into how we can strengthen our own efforts in New Jersey. The Successes WinnCompanies’ program initially achieved notable success by proactively intervening with tenants…

July 3, 2024

ADDRESSING JERSEY CITY AS THE SECOND HIGHEST RENT IN THE NATION

By Carol M. Sainthilaire and Alessandra Molina Reading this is bitter news to swallow on the heels of The Waterfront Project’s Justice for All Gala last week, where we chanted HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT. We know that Jersey City and Hudson County have become unaffordable, but it’s sobering to see the numbers. This is why preventing evictions and keeping people housed is so important and why we need to 1.…