HUD's HOME Program Helps Transform Units Into Affordable Housing

On April 4, 2012, HUD Newark Field Office Director Diane Johnson participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the inauguration of the apartments at Harmony Square in Newark. Harmony Square, located near a number of public housing developments and a market-rate condominium complex, was developed by the M & M Construction Company.

HUD Newark Field Office Director Diane Johnson with DCA Commissioner Richard Constable.

M & M, a minority- and women-owned development company, has continued its efforts to provide quality housing in New Jersey by transforming an abandoned, burned-out eyesore on Newark's Broad Street into a 16-unit affordable housing complex. Eleven of the Harmony Square units will be set aside for homeless victims of domestic violence.

All eleven units were funded under HUD's HOME program utilizing $550,000 from the City of Newark and $300,000 from Essex County for a total of $850,000. The units also receive project-based Section 8 assistance from the Newark Housing Authority. The units dedicated to homeless domestic violence victims will be scattered throughout the building so the women will not be easily identifiable. One resident said that Harmony Square is now "like a shining bright light in the neighborhood."

Other attendees at the ceremony included Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Richard Constable and State Senator Teresa Ruiz.

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