In a recently published op-ed in BINJE (Business In New Jersey Everyday), Assistant Professor Tjeerd Boonman, McMullen Family Professor of Economics, makes the economic case for legislation allowing for more accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to help meet urgent need of more housing options for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Boonman states that New Jersey faces two big challenges: a shortage of affordable homes and rising health care costs. People with IDD find themselves in the middle of these challenges. ADUs can provide the solution that people with IDD and their families need. However, zoning codes in most New Jersey municipalities restrict these types of homes from being built, limiting the ability to increase our housing supply and address health care costs.
ADUs provide an alternative to group homes and supervised apartments and afford a person with IDD the opportunity to live independently, within the vicinity of family. Staying in an existing neighborhood has also shown to alleviate the stress and anxiety for both the family and the person with IDD associated with relocation. The literature provides five economic and social advantages of ADUs for persons with IDD. These include the social determinants of health, family and friends caregiving, and a long-term solution for housing stability. ADUs are not a burden on public finances and partially resolve New Jersey’s housing affordability crisis. The construction and maintenance actually generate economic activity.
Despite these positive economic and societal benefits, ADUs are not permitted in most municipalities. According to Boonman, legalization of ADU construction at the state level will make it easier and faster for families to get permission and obtain bank loans or alternative funding to construct these units. State-level legislation would also provide developers and architects with predictability and allow them to work with uniform standards.
Boonman said the op-ed was the result of work with Walter Kalman, a doctoral student in Monmouth University’s School of Social Work. Boonman said he is grateful to have been introduced to this multidisciplinary topic, and expects that this project can contribute to the discussion of policy makers in New Jersey. “Collaborating with students and faculty from other schools at Monmouth University has been a great experience, as we normally tend to stay inside our own silos, while there are so many issues that require a multidisciplinary approach,” Boonman said.
Boonman also expressed his thanks to Monmouth University student Juliana Hopeck, a business major with concentration in economics and finance, for her excellent research assistance. “She has shown great initiative and has helped me to find more literature and data on this topic.”