L to R: Deshawn Young (Lead Residential Services Coordinator, AHA), Leigh-Anthony Mayo (Residential Services Coordinator, AHA), Kate Kelly (Executive Director of SHA), Chris Pugliese (Chief Property Development Officer, AHA), Randi More (CEO, AHA), Anthony Weigand (Housing Development Manager, AHA), James Aravecz (Capital Projects Field Supervisor), Melanie Walter (Executive Director of NJHMFA)
On Friday, November 14th at the Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey’s 2025 SHA Conference, we were honored to receive the Project of the Year award for Novad Court, our newest supportive housing community serving three families transitioning out of homelessness.
What makes this recognition especially meaningful is that it celebrates our comprehensive approach to housing stability: providing safe, quality homes where residents can thrive, supported by our dedicated Residential Services Coordinators who deliver wraparound assistance tailored to each resident’s needs, from food security to supplemental assistance programs and beyond.
Our Chief Property Development Officer, Chris Pugliese, contributed to two important conversations at the conference. As moderator for “Turning Policy into Practice: Navigating New UHAC Rules for Supportive Housing Success,” Chris helped unpack how recent regulatory amendments impact housing for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and other underserved groups. He also presented on “Delivering Impact by Enhancing Services in Supportive Housing,” exploring how service planning must evolve throughout the full lifecycle of a project, from early development stages through ongoing adaptation to residents’ changing needs.
This award reflects the extraordinary partnership between Millstone Township, our funding partners at DCA’s National Housing Trust Fund and Monmouth County’s HOME American Rescue Plan, and everyone committed to creating pathways out of homelessness and into long-term stability.
To our colleagues at SHA and fellow conference attendees, thank you for this honor and your collaboration. When we share strategies, challenge assumptions, and learn from each other, we strengthen our collective ability to create inclusive communities and lasting housing stability across New Jersey.