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Once each decade, the U.S. Census Bureau begins the long, slow, expensive process of collecting information about the roughly 300 million U.S. residents. They’ll ask households to fill out and return census forms in order to get the pulse of the nation’s demographics. In preparation for the census data collection, the Bureau will begin a campaign to convince people to mail those forms back.The campaign, which costs $300 million, will begin in earnest in March, when the Bureau mails out 10-question forms to roughly 120 million households. Robert Groves, the Census director, started in early yesterday, however, and showed up at an event in New York City in a 46-foot trailer called “Mail it Back.” In all, the Census Bureau will have 13 such vehicles show up at roughly 800 events around the country, including such high-profile events as the Super Bowl  and the NCAA Final Four. Said Groves, “The whole purpose is to reach out to people at local events.”

The data collected by the Census Bureau is used in a variety of Congressional studies, as well as to distribute federal and state aid. Private companies and other government agencies also use the data. Said Groves, “There’s political power involved because of the Constitution. There’s money involved as well.” This year, forms will be sent out in other languages as well, including Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean and Russian. Said Groves, “I don’t think you can ever do enough. What we are doing, I think, is something to be proud of.”

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Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy, along with the New Jersey Housing & Mortgage Finance Agency Executive Director Marge Della Vecchia announce that the City’s participation in the state’s Live Where You Work program has resulted in over $1,000,000 in mortgage loans secured for those wishing to own homes in Jersey City.

New Jersey’s Live Where You Work program is a special home mortgage incentive program that provides a low-interest 30 or 40-year fixed-rate first mortgage for people who will live and work in Jersey City. The program also provides Smart Start down payment assistance in an amount equal to 5 percent of the first mortgage loan for qualified purchasers.

HMFA started the Live Where You Work program in order to increase homeownership and enhance housing affordability opportunities in participating municipalities.

The program, which the City joined in April 2008, has thus far secured over $1,000,000 in mortgage loans. The funding is designed to encourage the revitalization of communities through increased homeownership.

“Jersey City’s proximity to New York’s high-priced real estate market drives up the price of homes here,” Mayor Healy said. “We are pleased that the state has recognized how valuable a program this will be to make the American Dream of homeownership possible for many Jersey City families.”

In consideration of the anticipated cost savings of minimized commuting costs, the borrowers’ housing and overall debt ratios will be expanded by 3 percent over the usual underwriting limits giving borrowers more buying power.

“This is a program that really makes sense for Jersey City,” said HMFA Executive Director Marge Della Vecchia. “When workers and families live in the towns in which they work, their commitment to the community grows. We are pleased to partner with Mayor Healy in this program.”

The Live Where You Work program offers incentives for residents to purchase homes closer to where they work and encourages the use of public mass transit to further smart growth planning principles.

If you are interested in learning more about the Live Where You Work mortgage program, please call 1-800-NJHOUSE or visit http://livewhereyouwork.jerseycitynj.gov.

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