City and county leaders, along with major regional institutions, have come together to launch the Camden Community Housing Collaborative (CCHC), a transformative $16 million public-private partnership aimed at dramatically increasing the supply of affordable and accessible housing in Camden City.
The CCHC is a partnership between the Camden Community Partnership (CCP), the Rowan-Rutgers Joint Board of Governors, the Camden County Improvement Authority (CCIA), and the Cooper Foundation. It seeks to redevelop underutilized lots and properties into inclusive, mixed-income, and mixed-use communities. The program will be managed by the CCIA and the CCP, which will also house the collaborative within its organization.
The total fund will reach approximately $16 million, including $7.5 million from the CCIA’s revolving housing fund, $5.5 million from the Rowan-Rutgers Joint Board of Governors, and several million dollars from the Cooper Foundation.
A “One Stop Shop” for developers
The collaborative is designed to provide both financial and technical support to local community development corporations (CDCs) that are already working to revitalize neighborhoods.
Dana Redd, chief executive officer for the Camden Community Partnership, called the initiative unprecedented for the city’s housing stock.
“We are rolling up our sleeves to create a new generation of housing for residents, families and seniors in the city,” Redd said. “I believe my team can create a one stop shop for our partners to lean on and work with to deliver for our residents.”
The CCHC will award grants to established nonprofit organizations and developers, including groups like St. Joe’s Carpenter’s Society, Habitat for Humanity, Heart of Camden, Parkside Business and Community in Partnership, and Camden Lutheran Housing. CCP will assist these CDCs with permitting and cutting through red tape, streamlining the path from design to construction.
Mayor Victor Carstarphen emphasized the need for this support. “Housing has been a main priority for my administration… this new fund will jumpstart so many projects that need a small financial lift to get moving,” Carstarphen stated. “This plan will deliver the housing stock that the residents of Camden deserve.”
Building on Camden’s transformation
Chairman of Cooper University Health Care and MD Anderson Cancer Center, George Norcross, highlighted the importance of expanding housing options as the city continues its transformation.
“Camden is increasingly a place people want to live because it’s close to new jobs, the schools are dramatically improving, and there are more things to do for families,” Norcross said. “Current and new residents need a variety of safe, high quality and affordable housing options… Expanding housing options are an important ‘next step’ in Camden’s transformation.”
Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr., liaison to the CCIA, noted that the CCHC will act as a “catalyst and a facilitator to the widespread redevelopment of locations around the city so that our residents can have easier and more affordable access to housing.”
The CCHC will leverage state programs, including the NJEDA’s ASPIRE program and the NJHMFA’s 4% low-income housing tax credit program, to close financing gaps. It will also target properties within the city’s opportunity zones and utilize the CCIA’s resources for demolition and potential bridge loan financing.
Local nonprofit leaders, including Brandi Johnson of Camden Lutheran Housing and Pilar Hogan of Saint Joseph’s Carpenter Society, praised the initiative for strengthening the city’s commitment to permanent, neighborhood-driven housing solutions.
Congressman Donald Norcross underscored the impact of collaboration, stating, “Camden City’s comeback proves what’s possible when we invest in community safety, housing, quality education, and good-paying jobs.”
