In 2019, New Jersey Deaf Housing (NJDH) contacted the Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf (MKSD) about the use of Building 24 for Deaf Senior housing. Discussions were for a 30-year lease and a complete renovation.  After spending four years with overwhelming support from various departments, in November 2024 a letter from Kathy Ehling, Assistant Commissioner Division of Educational Services, stated that the NJ DOE denied the NJDH proposal to renovate Building 24. The letter said the decision was based on several factors, including but not limited to the educational needs of the MKSD, the availability of alternative use options for Building 24, and broader considerations related to educational infrastructure management and planning. The board members requested a meeting or response from Ms. Ehling. We requested to discuss what were the alternative use options and broader considerations. There was no response until late this January when Ms. Ehling sent another letter stating there is no room for further discussion.  

The NJDH Board is extremely disappointed and angry about this decision and the continual lack of response during the five years attempting to work with the NJ DOE.

NJDH is continuing to move forward for supportive housing for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing/DeafBlind community. NJDH is working with the developer TCH (Triple C Housing). On January 31, 2025,  property sale was completed for a newly renovated 4-unit building in Highland Park , which will be occupied by four families with a Deaf Head of Household. TCH continues to work to get the variances and permits needed to start building Deaf residences in Bayville and Dunellen. NJDH is also working with the NJ Supportive Housing Association (SHA) to contact other developers in NJ that would be interested in working with NJDH to develop supportive housing for the NJ Deaf community.