N.J. Prods Towns to Spend on Housing

New Jersey municipalities are sitting on a pile of cash — more than a quarter-billion dollars — and the state would like to help them spend it while addressing a critical housing shortage for some of its neediest residents.
The Department of Community Affairs signed a deal last week with 12 municipalities which allows the towns to spend some of their own money for new special needs housing. Lori Grifa, the outgoing DCA commissioner, expects the money to create 600 new beds by June 2013.
Under the deal, the towns will receive a dollar-for-dollar match on the money they spend. The towns committed $5.1 million, which the state matched.