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Residents press council on proposed supportive housing; mayor says YMCA will operate facility and town will invest $4.5 million
Summary
During public comment, residents asked about oversight, tenant screening and financial risk for a planned supportive housing purchase; Mayor John McCormick said the YMCA will run operations, the town's $4.5 million is an investment from housing and CDBG funds, and he listed four criteria distinguishing the project from a homeless shelter.
During the public-comment portion of the council meeting, several residents raised questions and concerns about a planned supportive housing project the township intends to help fund.
A resident who identified himself as Paul (of the Hopelon section) asked what formal oversight Woodbridge will retain after contributing $4,500,000 to the project, whether there will be annual reporting or audits, whether the town may be on the hook for funding shortfalls if outside subsidies decline, and which criminal‑background exclusions or behavioral standards will be used to screen tenants. He also asked about a separate road-repair concern for a stretch of Blair Road.
Mayor John McCormick replied that the town has not yet finalized an agreement with the YMCA, which the town expects to operate the facility. "They run these kind of facilities. They have the expertise," McCormick said, adding that the township is an investor in the building and that operational decisions will be made by the YMCA. He listed four distinguishing criteria he said make the project supportive housing rather than a homeless shelter: entry will be by qualification (not a walk‑in shelter), residents will pay what they can (not simply be housed for free), residents will sign leases, and occupants will have access to professionals and social and medical services.
McCormick also provided high-level financing context in response to public questions: the purchase price is $12,000,000 and Woodbridge is contributing $4.5 million drawn from the township's affordable housing trust fund and community development block grant funds, which he said are not "general taxpayer dollars." He said additional details about oversight, reporting and tenant screening will be provided once a formal agreement is complete.
Other members of the public raised related concerns about terminology and neighborhood impacts; the council and staff suggested residents submit formal requests for information and, for infrastructure issues such as road repairs, contact county engineers where a road falls under county jurisdiction.
The meeting record shows the council did not take a vote on the housing agreement at this session; the mayor repeatedly urged that formal requests be filed so staff can respond with documentation once agreements are finalized.
