Affordable Housing Professionals

This half-day session focuses on the nature of the public trust and the “rules” for ethical behavior that are relevant for affordable housing professionals. New Jersey law and HUD regulations are examined and applied to ethical issues using a case study approach. A final exam is administered in open-book format.

This half-day session centers on discrimination in housing, including state and federal legislation. It discusses who can be penalized, how disabilities are defined, what are reasonable accommodations, and what policies and procedures should be established and followed. The Fair Housing complaint process is also reviewed, and a multitude of resources (written, audio, visual, etc.) are shared. A final exam is administered in open-book format.

Income Certification

The Income Certification course provides housing professionals with the knowledge and practical skills needed to accurately determine household eligibility for affordable housing programs through a comprehensive review of income certification requirements. Replacing the former Qualifying Households for Affordable Housing and Determining Eligibility for Affordable Housing courses, this updated course streamlines the income qualification process into a single, comprehensive training.

Participants will learn how to identify and calculate household income from a variety of income sources, apply applicable program requirements and regulations, review required documentation, verify eligibility, and accurately complete the income certification process. Through real-world scenarios and practical exercises, attendees will gain confidence in making consistent, compliant eligibility determinations while minimizing common errors.

Prerequisite Information

Students who have previously completed Qualifying Households for Affordable Housing and/or Determining Eligibility for Affordable Housing are not required to take the new Income Certification course. Instead, they must complete the Income Certification Update course to learn the revised curriculum, updated requirements, and any changes to income certification policies and procedures.

The Income Certification Update course is designed for housing professionals who have previously completed Qualifying Households for Affordable Housing and/or Determining Eligibility for Affordable Housing. This course provides an overview of the updates incorporated into the new Income Certification curriculum and focuses exclusively on new and revised requirements, policies, procedures, and best practices.

Rather than repeating foundational concepts, the course highlights key changes to income certification processes, documentation, and compliance requirements, ensuring participants remain current with program expectations. This streamlined update enables experienced professionals to transition to the new curriculum while maintaining the knowledge necessary to accurately certify household eligibility for affordable housing programs.

This two-day course defines affordable housing programs. Topics covered include the history of housing policy, the laws, regulations and court cases relative to affordable housing at both the federal and the state level, and their impact on housing availability. Students are familiarized with various programs, funding sources, regulatory entities, rules and regulations all related to the evolution of affordable housing. A final exam is administered in open-book format.

This course will provide students with an understanding as to how affordable units are decided and placed in the community. Topics include how sites are determined; guidelines currently in effect to determine affordable housing obligations; roles of the planning board and governing body; working with developers; working with affordable housing commissions; and knowing how to read a site plan to find the affordable housing components. A final exam is administered in open-book format.

Nontraditional development opportunities for housing authorities and redevelopment agencies are explored in this one-day course, including housing provided under the state’s Mount Laurel requirements. Strategies for developing housing within a wide range of affordability are discussed, and the household income levels established by various federal and state programs are described. Specific attention is given to “how-to” tips for establishing and working with nonprofit corporations. This course is an elective for HA executive directors and HA commissioners; it is a required course for RA executive directors. 

The UHAC Updates course provides affordable housing professionals with a comprehensive overview of recent updates and best practices related to New Jersey's Uniform Housing Affordability Controls (UHAC). Designed for administrators, municipal staff, administrative agents, and other housing professionals, this course focuses on key changes that impact the administration and compliance of affordable housing programs.

Topics include general updates and changes to the administration of for-sale units, including resale price calculations and eligible capital improvements, physical and design standards, monitoring and compliance responsibilities, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) approval process, extension requests, and municipal website requirements. Participants will gain practical guidance to help ensure their affordable housing programs remain compliant, consistent, and aligned with current UHAC requirements.