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Property tax ruling goes against non-profit
The Record
Published: Wednesday, June 24, 2009
By Leslie Brody
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A state judge ruled against Advance Housing, Inc., on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 that the organization does not deserve tax exemptions on homes it leased to 35 mentally ill clients in nine Bergen County towns.
Judge Pizzuto said the non-profit agency did not bring its counseling and training into the homes enough to warrant giving the properties themselves tax exemptions. He said the services were often "brief" and always "voluntary." Furthermore, he said, Advance Housing provided help to many clients who did not live in its homes, so its service and housing arms are separate.
At stake is more than $1 million dollars in property taxes from 2002 to 2004. Advance Housing, based in Hackensack, had sought exemptions for its houses, condos and apartments in Bergenfield, Fairview, Hackensack, Leonia, Little Ferry, Lodi, Teaneck, Ramsey and Ridgefield Park. Most tenants had been moved out of psychiatric institutions as part of a national movement to bring the mentally ill back into the community.
Joel Ellis, a lawyer for Advance Housing, said the agency should not be penalized for serving clients outside its homes and that he would recommend an appeal. He said support, such as, counseling, transportation and training in shopping and cleaning, was critical to help fragile clients live independently- a cheaper option for taxpayers than institutional care.
Court papers filed by Advance Housing said it costs about $20,000 a year to sustain a client in one of its homes, compared with $60,000 in a group home and $146,000 in a psychiatric hospital.
The Executive Committee of Advance Housing has unanimously voted to appeal the decision of Judge Pizzutto.
Advance Housing, Inc. has received monetary donations with all money going directly to the appeal. If you would like to donate please send your contribution for the "tax appeal" case directly to:
Advance Housing, Inc.
100 First Street, Suite 203
Hackensack, NJ 07601
Attention: Nancy Storey
We appreciate everyone in the community's support.
Countywide Mental Health Advocacy Breakfast, May 20, 2009
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