Wyckoff Council To County, State Officials: Let's Work Together To Build Special Needs Housing

Wyckoff officials are trying to spearhead an initiative to help New Jersey’s residents with special needs.

The council approved a resolution Wednesday encouraging officials throughout Bergen County and New Jersey to work collectively to help residents living with special needs.

The resolution suggests designating portions of public land in county and state parks, colleges, or other government-owned facilities to “realistically address the demand for special needs public housing.”

“Everyone looks at the issue of providing special needs housing on a community level, but it needs to be addressed in a much bigger way,” Mayor Kevin Rooney said. “We need to have the 21 counties take a look at the problem and find a way to help these people.”

The resolution suggests municipalities could pay local, county, and state housing development fees to help get these collaborative projects completed.

Municipal Clerk Joyce Santimauro will provide a copy of the resolution to Bergen County Exeuctive James Tedesco, every county freeholder, Governor Christie, members of the state Senate and Assembly, the New Jersey League of Municipalities, and the state Division of Disability Services.

“The biggest challenge is finding the land to build the housing on,” Rooney said. “If the state and counties can work together on this, I know we can find a solution.”