The Lafayette Gardens Revitalization Plan calls for significant homeownership development, inclusive of affordable homeownership opportunities; specifically constructing and selling 30 new high-quality homes  to qualified, low-income families.  The Lafayette Gardens Community Support Services/Self-Sufficiency Program will facilitate realizing this objective.

Of the intended 30 qualified low-income families, the Lafayette CSS Program is also targeting 15 of these new homes to be sold to current Lafayette Garden families and 7% of the new homes to be sold to persons with disabilities.  A full time Homeownership Program Officer will oversee all homeownership programs and services, providing some directly and contracting for others with experienced third parties.

The programs and services include: outreach to potential participants through informational group meetings and homebuyer seminars conducted by Homeownership Officers; individual budget/mortgage counseling, assistance with accessing below-market mortgages and homeownership mobility counseling, and post-purchase counseling and homeownership reference library.

The homeownership opportunities for low-income families are made affordable through a partnership with NJHMFA for 100% mortgages at below the market interest rate and the provision of soft-second mortgages to write down purchase prices to affordable levels up to $40,000.  Additionally, the JCHA's participation in Jersey City's affordable housing property tax abatement program will realize an approximately $2,000 savings per year on each property.