NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF
THE TAX COURT COMMITTEE ON OPINIONS
TAX COURT OF NEW JERSEY
DOCKET NOS. 000058-2002
000059-2002
000062-2002
________________________________________
COMMUNITY ACCESS UNLIMITED INC.,
Approved for Publication
In the New Jersey Tax Court Reports
Plaintiff,
v.
CITY OF ELIZABETH,
Defendant.
_________________________________________
Decided: October 6, 2003
Virginia B. Puder, Esq. for plaintiff
(Puder & Poltrock Esqs., attorneys).
Robert D. Blau, Esq., for defendant
(Blau and Blau, attorneys).
BIANCO, J.T.C.
This is the courts determination regarding the motion for Summary Judgment filed by
plaintiff, Community Access Unlimited Inc. (formerly known as Association for Advancement of the
Mentally Handicapped) (CAU), and the cross motion for Summary Judgment filed by defendant,
City of Elizabeth (Elizabeth).
CAU is a Not-for-Profit Corporation established under Title 15 or 15A of the
laws of New Jersey, and qualifies as a tax-exempt non-profit organization under § 501(c)(3)
of the
*
Internal Revenue Code.
See footnote 1
CAU seeks an exemption from local property taxation pursuant to
N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.6 arguing that: (1) it is an entity exclusively organized and used
for the moral and mental improvement of men, women, and children; or, (2)
it is exclusively formed for a charitable purpose and used for charitable activities.
CAU owns three properties at issue (collectively the subject properties), all of which
are located in the City of Elizabeth, Union County. The first property is
located at 312 Stiles Street (Stiles Street property) and designated as Lot 1407
in Block 13 on the official Tax Map of the City of Elizabeth
(Tax Map). The second property is located at 915 West Jersey Avenue (West
Jersey Avenue property) and designated as Lot 1123 in Block 10 on the
Tax Map. The third property is located 120-126 Westfield Avenue (Westfield Avenue property),
Unit 11 and designated as Lot 1626 in Block 13 on the Tax
Map.
Elizabeth maintains that the subject properties should not be exempt from taxation since
the primary use of these properties is merely to house people with mental
disabilities.
See footnote 2
Housing people with mental disabilities alone or even as a primary purpose,
according to Elizabeth, does not demonstrate that CAU is (1) organized exclusively for
the moral and mental improvement of men, women, and children, or (2) organized
for a charitable purpose, within the meaning of N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.6. Moreover, even if
CAU is doing something that might qualify as the moral and mental improvement
of men, women, and children, Elizabeth contends it may be doing so off
site, and, in any event, only as a secondary purpose.
The facts are not in dispute.
See footnote 3
Individuals with some form of mental disability
occupy the subject properties. The Stiles Street property was conveyed to CAU by
Mary Anne Boylan, individually and as Executrix under the Last Will and Testament
of Marion D. Jensen, deceased, and Donald Jensen (Grantors) for consideration of $1.00.
The Stiles Street property consists of a supported living facility and is occupied
by the Grantors son Robert Jensen for a monthly rental fee of $533.
It is also occupied by two other individuals who each pay a monthly
rental fee of $350. The West Jersey Avenue property was conveyed to CAU
by Robert A. Obler for consideration less than $100. This property is occupied
by Robert A. Oblers son, Mark Obler, for a monthly rental fee of
$125. It is also occupied by two other individuals who pay a monthly
rental fee of $300 and $200 respectively. The Westfield Avenue property was conveyed
to CAU by GE Capital Mortgage Services for consideration of $53,000. The property
is occupied by two individuals who pay a monthly rental fee of $181
and $468 respectively.
The amount of rent paid by each occupant of the subject properties is
based on many factors, including programmatic requirements, need, and ability to pay. The
amount of rent charged never exceeds the fair market value of rent for
similarly situated dwellings located in Elizabeth. Furthermore, the amount of rent charged never
exceeds thirty percent of a tenants monthly income.
See footnote 4
If tenants do not make
enough money to pay the rents charged, CAU supplements the monies required to
administer its services and satisfy the properties debt service from its own resources,
consisting of funds made available through various state grants as well as substantial
capital campaigns conducted by CAU each year. Furthermore, CAU does not evict tenants
if they fail to pay rent; rather, CAU supplements the monies until that
person can pay.
See footnote 5
The residents of the subject properties are members of CAU and involved in
programs offered by CAU. CAU members are placed in housing and programs, which
address their specific needs as well as level of independence. CAUs ultimate goal,
as stated in the certificate of amendment to the corporate charter, is to
provide its members with an opportunity to live independently and lead a normal
productive life as a citizen, including paying ones own living expenses. CAU provides
a program for disabled individuals called the Supportive Living Apartment Program (SLAP). SLAP
members are guided by CAU support staff members two to four times per
week in money management and counseling. CAU also provides a Community Support Program
(CSP) for people with disabilities who are ineligible for state funded rehabilitative programs.
This program is funded through private fees and donations. All tenants who reside
in the subject properties are in either the SLAP or CSP programs.
The court finds that the issue presented in this matter is ripe for
summary judgment. Under the provisions of R. 4:46-2 and the standards for consideration
of summary judgment motions set forth in Brill v. Guardian Life Ins. Co.
of America,
142 N.J. 520, 523 (1995), the court finds that there is
no genuine issue with respect to a material fact.
The applicable exemption statute is N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.6, which provides in pertinent part:
The following property shall be exempt from taxation under this chapter: . .
. all buildings actually used in the work of associations and corporations organized
exclusively for the moral and mental improvement of men, women and children, .
. . all buildings actually used in the work of associations and corporations
organized exclusively for . . . charitable purposes, . . . all buildings
owned by a corporation created under or otherwise subject to the provisions of
Title 15 of the Revised Statutes or Title 15A of the New Jersey
Statutes and actually and exclusively used in the work of one or more
associations or corporations organized exclusively for charitable or religious purposes, which associations or
corporations may or may not pay rent for the use of the premises
or the portions of the premises used by them; . . . in
case of all the foregoing, the buildings, or the lands on which they
stand, or the associations, corporations or institutions using and occupying them as aforesaid,
are not conducted for profit, except that the exemption of the buildings and
lands used for charitable, benevolent or religious purposes shall extend to cases where
the charitable, benevolent or religious work therein carried on is supported partly by
fees and charges received from or on behalf of beneficiaries using or occupying
the buildings; provided the building is wholly controlled by and the entire income
therefrom is used for said charitable, benevolent or religious purposes. The foregoing exemption
shall apply only where the association, corporation or institution claiming the exemption owns
the property in question and is incorporated or organized under the laws of
this State and authorized to carry out the purposes on account of which
the exemption is claimed . . .
[N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.6].
Tax exemption statutes are to be strictly construed against those claiming exemption because
of the compelling public policy that all property bear its fair share of
the burden of taxation. Princeton Univ. Press v. Princeton Bor.,
35 N.J. 209,
214 (1961). Accordingly, CAU has the burden of demonstrating that the subject properties
should be exempt from taxation. To be exempt from taxation under N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.6,
CAU must meet three requirements. First, CAU must be organized exclusively for the
moral and mental improvement of men, women and children, or for a charitable
purpose. Second, the subject properties must be actually and exclusively used for the
tax-exempt purpose. Third, the operation and use of the subject properties must not
be for profit. Paper Mill Playhouse v. Millburn Tp.,
95 N.J. 503, 506
(1984). Since CAUs not-for-profit status is not in dispute, the Court need only
focus on the first two requirements.
When making a determination of whether or not an entity is organized
exclusively for an exempt purpose, the courts look only to the entitys organizational
documents, which include the By-Laws as well as Articles of Incorporation. Black United
Fund v. East Orange,
17 N.J.Tax 446, 455 (Tax 1998), affd,
339 N.J.Super. 462 (App. Div. 2001)(emphasis added); SeePlanned Parenthood of Bergen County, Inc. v.
Hackensack City,
12 N.J. Tax 598, 610 n.6 (Tax 1992), affd,
14 N.J.Tax 171 (App. Div. 1993) (holding that the term organized in the statute refers
to the entitys organizational documents, its corporate charter). See alsoIntercare Health Systems,
Inc. v. Cedar Grove Tp.,
11 N.J. Tax 423, 425 (Tax 1990), affd
12 N.J. Tax 273 (App. Div. 1991), certif. denied
127 N.J. 558 (1992).
As stated in CAUs Articles of Incorporation, the purpose of the corporation is:
To provide community access through effective, systematic, comprehensive support services for people with
handicaps and their families, giving them the opportunity to live independently and to
lead normal and productive lives as citizens integrated into the general community. Services
also include the provision of decent housing preferably income integrated and affordable particularly
to low and moderate income people.
Article II, Section A of CAUs By-Laws provide that its general purpose is
to assist mentally handicapped individuals without regard to race, sex or national origin
to reach their fullest potential for self-sufficiency in all aspects of their lives.
Article II, Section B of CAUs By-Laws states:
This corporation shall carry out only such charitable, educational, and research purposes as
are included within the terms of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1954 as amended, governing taxation of corporations by the United States of
America and in compliance with N.J.S.A. 15A.
In St. Lukes Village, Inc. v. Peapack & Gladstone Bor.,
11 N.J. Tax 76, 80 (Tax 1990), the Tax Court held that St. Lukes Village was
organized exclusively for religious or charitable purposes where the corporation was formed to
construct and operate senior-citizen apartment housing at reduced rates affordable to persons of
low and moderate income for the benefit of members of St. Lukes Parish,
the people of Peapack-Gladstone and their respective relatives.
See footnote 6
In Southern Jersey Family Medical
Center, Inc. v. City of Pleasantville,
351 N.J. Super. 262 (App. Div. 2002),
affd
176 N.J. 184 (2003), the Appellate Division found that Southern Jersey was
organized for a charitable purpose based primarily on the sentence of their Articles
of Incorporation, which stated [t]he purposes for which this Corporation is formed are
exclusively charitable . . . .
See footnote 7Id. at 266.
In Planned Parenthood, supra,
12 N.J. Tax 598, the Tax Court held that
Planned Parenthood was not organized exclusively for a charitable purpose. Planned Parenthoods corporate
charter stated three purposes for which it was organized:
(1) to promote scientific research and education relating to the medical, sociological, economic
and public health aspects of birth control; (2) to operate a medically supervised
center where underprivileged mothers may receive contraceptive information or treatment when prescribed by
physicians in conformity with the laws of the State of New Jersey; (3)
to operate with state or national birth control leagues in the exchange of
information and data for the purposes of maintaining efficient and high standards of
medical service and in gathering the scientific records and data used in such
leagues.
[Planned Parenthood, supra, 12 N.J. Tax at 609-610].
Some of the activities authorized by Planned Parenthoods corporate charter were restricted to
servicing underprivileged women while others were not. The Tax Court concluded that the
activities restricted to underprivileged women met the charitable organization test, but denied the
tax exemption based on the fact that others activities were not restricted to
servicing underprivileged women. Id. at 610. In contrast, all of the activities listed
in CAUs organizational documents are restricted to people with mental handicaps.
See footnote 8
Based upon CAUs By-Laws and Articles of Incorporation and applicable case law, the
court is satisfied that CAU is organized for a charitable purpose. Accordingly, it
is not necessary for the court to determine whether CAU is also organized
for the moral and mental improvement of men women and children pursuant to
N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.6.
See footnote 9
The court now turns to the question of whether the subject
properties are being used for that charitable purpose.
The determination of whether or not property is being used for a charitable
purpose depends on the facts and circumstances of each case. There is no
precise definition of what constitutes a charitable activity. Presbyterian Homes of the Synod
of New Jersey v. Division of Tax Appeals,
55 N.J. 275, 285 (1970).
Multiple factors must be taken into consideration when making the determination as to
an organizations charitable status, including but not limited to the organizations social services
activities and source of funding. Abdallah v. Occupational Ctr. of Hudson County, Inc.,
351 N.J. Super. 280, 284 (App. Div. 2002). In support of its contention
that the subject properties should be exempt from taxation, CAU relies on Salt
and Light Co., Inc. v. Mount Holly, Tp.,
15 N.J. Tax 274 (Tax
1995), affd,
16 N.J. Tax 40 (App. Div. 1996), certif. denied,
148 N.J. 458 (1997) and Essex Props. Urban Renewal Assocs., Inc. v. City of Newark,
20 N.J. Tax 360 (Tax 2002).
In Salt and Light Co., supra, plaintiff, Salt and Light Co. (Salt and
Light), used its properties to provide temporary housing and counseling services to the
homeless. Id. at 277. Salt and Light operated approximately twenty-four residences for the
homeless, that were purchased with United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD) monies or Federal Home Loan grant monies, and renovated through a combination
of government grants and funds generated by Salt and Light. Id. at 280.
Approximately two-thirds of the 127 residents in Salt and Lights program received public
assistance. Id. at 281. To the extent they were able, the remaining one-third
paid up to 30% of their income as rent. Id. The Tax Court
held that Salt and Light used its facilities for a charitable purpose by
providing temporary shelter and services to the homeless, and therefore qualified for tax
exemption under N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.6, even though it received government subsidies. Id. at 295-96.
In Essex Properties, supra,
20 N.J. Tax 360, plaintiff, Essex Properties Urban Renewal
Associates, Inc. (Essex Properties), relying on Salt and Light Co., supra,
15 N.J.
Tax 274, sought a property tax exemption pursuant to N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.6. Essex Properties
was a not-for-profit corporation that provided housing and counseling to low income, developmentally
and/or physically disabled persons. Essex Properties argued that it was providing a service
that relieved the government of a burden. In refusing to grant a property
tax exemption to Essex Properties, the Tax Court distinguished the facts of that
case from those in Salt and Light Co.Essex Properties,
20 N.J. Tax 360, at 357. Unlike Salt and Light, the Tax Court found that Essex
Properties failed to establish that (1) rents charged were below market rents; (2)
individuals who did not qualify for government aid would be admitted into the
program; (3) individuals who are were unable to pay rent that was not
paid through government funding would not be evicted; and (4) disabled individuals who
could not pay any rent would be admitted. Ibid. Furthermore, the Tax Court
also pointed out that the on-site social workers provided by Essex Properties were
different from the on-site case managers provided by Salt and Light. Ibid.See footnote 10
Due
to a lack of evidence to the contrary, the Tax Court held that
Essex Properties was essentially renting apartments to disabled persons, and therefore, did not
provide a service unique to the area in which it [was] located. Id.
at 369. Moreover, the Tax Court concluded that Essex Properties failed to relieve
the government of any burden. Ibid.
Although Salt and Light Co., supra,
15 N.J. Tax 274, concerned housing the
homeless
See footnote 11
rather than housing the mentally disabled, this court finds that the facts
of Salt and Light Co., supra, are more analogous to those in the
present case.
See footnote 12Like the non-government subsidized residents in Salt and Light Co., supra,
CAUs residents only spend up to 30% of their monthly income on rent.
Furthermore, existing CAU tenants who can no longer pay rent are not evicted
solely due to an inability to pay rent and, CAU will also admit
and retain an individual with a mental disability who cannot pay rent, provided
there is space available. Additionally, CAU services are available to any member of
the general public who is mentally disabled, provided space is available.
Unlike the case managers in Essex Properties,
20 N.J. Tax 360, there is
no dispute that CAUs counselors are specially trained to provide advice and assistance
in obtaining employment, medical care and childcare, education, and job training. CAU counselors
meet regularly to provide these services to CAUs members.
In Presbyterian Homes, supra,
55 N.J. 275, the Supreme Court held that a
retirement community was not exempt from taxation under N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.6 based on various
factors. First Presbyterian Homes was not obligated, through its organizational documents or residence
agreements, to care for persons who became financially or physically unable to meet
their monthly charges. Id. at 286. Second, the residence agreements did not require
Presbyterian Homes to care for residents once the agreements were terminated; thus, they
could become a burden on the state. Id. at 286-287. Third, although the
Court acknowledged that charging rent does not negate a charitable purpose, in and
of itself, the amount and nature of the fees and rentals charged by
Presbyterian Homes negated the charitable purpose.
See footnote 13Id. at 287. The Court held that
although care of the aged may be laudable, whether it will constitute a
charitable purpose depends upon the manner in which the particular property is used
to accomplish that end. Id. at 288.
None of the factors that led the Court to deny tax-exempt status in
Presbyterian Homes, supra,
55 N.J. 275, are present here. Most notably, unlike the
rental fees charged in Presbyterian Homes, supra, the rents charged by CAU are
under market value.
See footnote 14
Elizabeth contends that CAUs primary purpose is to house people with mental disabilities
and any service it provides that may improve or rehabilitate its members is
purely secondary. It appears to this court, however, that CAU provides much more
than just housing to its members residing at the subject properties. In fact,
the court finds that the housing itself is secondary to CAUs main purpose,
which is to give individuals incapable of functioning on their own an opportunity
to live as close to a normal life as possible. CAU argues that
if not for the housing and social services it provides to its members,
a public facility like Graystone Psychiatric Hospital would have to care for them
at public expense.
The courts and the Legislature alike have recognized that rehabilitating the mentally disabled
is an important and legitimate governmental concern. In Township of Washington v. Central
Bergen Community Mental Health Center, Inc.,
156 N.J. Super. 388, 419-420 (Law Div.
1978), the court observed that,
[s]tate concern in this area [of rehabilitating the mentally disabled] is amply demonstrated
by the enactment of N.J.S.A. 30:9A-1 et seq. wherein the Legislature has carefully
charted a course directing vastly expanded programs to meet the needs of the
less fortunate citizens who suffer from mental disabilities requiring care and treatment but
not institutionalization.
By providing their mentally disabled members with housing and rehabilitative services, CAU contends
that it is relieving a potential public burden and furthering a legitimate state
concern even though CSP members are ineligible for state funded rehabilitative programs. The
court agrees, and dismisses Elizabeths unsupported claims that since some of CAUs tenants
were already living at the subject properties before they were acquired by CAU,
they were capable of functioning on their own and would therefore not have
become public burdens without CAUs assistance. To the contrary, the facts indicate that
some of CAUs members were in the care of their families, before their
families transferred property to CAU with the understanding that their mentally disabled family
member would be cared for. Neither the prior care nor the foresight to
plan for the future care of the mentally disabled by responsible family members
should serve to disqualify CAU or similar organizations from a tax exemption when
it is clear that the statutory requirements for exemption are met.
An analysis cognizant of CAUs source of funding is critical to the extent
that it establishes the organization as undertaking acts by which the government is
relieved pro tanto from a burden it would otherwise have to perform. Parker
v. St. Stephens Urban Dev. Corp.,
243 N.J. Super. 317, 326 (App. Div.
1990). In contrast to the organization denied tax-exempt status in Parker, CAU solicits
private contributions and engages yearly in substantial capital campaigns. In addition, the court
notes that two of the subject properties were donated to CAU for consideration
of less than $100. Accordingly, CAUs funds do not simply consist of state
grants; CAU depends on charitable contributions for its support. Therefore, CAU is able
to reduce the governments burden by providing mentally disabled members with rehabilitative services
and housing at a lower cost per individual than the government.
When looking at the totality of the facts and circumstances in this case,
the court finds that the manner in which the subject properties are actually
and exclusively used is consistent with and in furtherance of CAUs stated charitable
purpose. Additionally, since CAU is organized for a charitable purpose and its subject
properties are not used for profit, then those properties qualify for property tax
exemption pursuant to N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.6. Accordingly, CAUs motion for summary judgment is granted.
Elizabeths cross-motion for summary judgment is denied. The Tax Court Clerk is directed
to enter judgment consistent with this opinion.
Footnote: 1 Qualification with the IRS as a non-profit charitable organization pursuant to I.R.C.
§501(c)(3) is not, in and of itself, enough to qualify CAU for a
property tax exemption under N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.6. SeeBlack United Fund v.East Orange,
17 N.J.Tax 446 (Tax 1998). Footnote: 2
During oral argument, Elizabeth conceded that all occupants of the three properties
at issue are mentally disabled to some extent.
Footnote: 3
When asked by the court during oral argument whether there were any material
facts in dispute, CAUs counsel replied, well, there is no rebuttal to my
supplemental certification. So, I assume [no material facts] are in dispute. Elizabeths counsel
did not dispute this, or any other factual contention during oral argument. In
fact, when the court acknowledged that no material facts were in dispute at
the end of oral argument, Elizabeths counsel agreed.
Footnote: 4
CAU provided the court with an article entitled More U.S. Families spending
half their income on housing, which demonstrates that many low and moderate working
families spend fifty percent or more of their salaries on rent or mortgages.
SeeScott v. Salerno,
297 N.J.Super. 437, 447 (App. Div. 1997), certif. denied,
149 N.J. 409 (1997) (stating that parties cannot complain that the trial court
took as true facts which were not contested or challenged).
Footnote: 5
Elizabeth noted that each of CAUs tenants signed a lease that contains
a paragraph entitled Eviction which sates:
If the Tenant does not pay the rent within 15 days after it
is due, the Tenant may be evicted. The Landlord may also evict the
Tenant if the Tenant does not comply with all the terms of this
Lease and for all other causes allowed by law. If evicted, the Tenant
must continue to pay the rent for the rest of the term. The
Tenant must also pay all the costs, including reasonable attorney fees, related to
the eviction and the collection of any moneys owed to the Landlord, along
with the cost of re-entering, re-renting, and repairing the Apartment. Rent received from
any new tenant will reduce the amount owed to the landlord.
In reply, CAU submitted a supplemental certification of Sydney Blanchard, Executive Director of
CAU. In that certification, Mr. Blanchard explained that:
Individuals who have no source of income pay no rent and no individual
is ever evicted solely because of an inability to pay. Contrarily, CAU has
established a policy of retaining residents who are unable to pay. CAU will
admit and retain a person with a disability who can pay no rent
at all for housing, subject to availability. . .The purpose of the eviction
clause in its form lease is to preserve the right to evict a
tenant who acts in a disruptive manner (such as, for example, engages in
drug abuse, or physically violent behavior) that causes harm to other residents, not
to evict a tenant due to an inability to pay rent. In fact,
CAU has never evicted any tenant from the subject properties for any reason.
[Emphasis added].
Elizabeth did not dispute Mr. Blanchards contentions.
Footnote: 6
Ultimately, the Tax Court ruled that St. Lukes Village was not actually
and exclusively
used for a charitable purpose. St. Lukes Village, supra, 11 N.J.
Tax at 81. Footnote: 7
The Appellate Division reversed the Tax Courts holding on other grounds. Footnote: 8 CAUs original Articles of Incorporation were amended in 1992. As a result
the words mentally handicapped were changed to people with handicaps. In his aforementioned
certification, CAUs Executive Director Sydney Blanchard explained that,
The reason for the. . .revision of the description of its purpose was
to delete the words mentally handicapped because the usage of those particular words
had come to be considered as derogatory, insulting and offensive to the individuals
being served. It was no longer acceptable to refer to these individuals as
mentally handicapped; it was acceptable to refer to them as people with handicaps.
The changes were made so as not to offend the very people it
was trying to help. The changes were cosmetic only and did not alter
the purposes of CAU as set forth in its enabling documents or the
services CAU actually provided.
The court is satisfied that, when read together, CAUs By-Laws and Articles of
Incorporation as amended, do not alter CAUs purposes or services as originally intended
in its enabling documents. Footnote: 9
The court notes, however, that in
1711 Third Avenue, Inc. v. City of
Asbury Park,
16 N.J. Tax 174, 181 (Tax 1996), a provision of plaintiffs
articles of incorporation that purported to provide housing facilities designed to meet the
physical, social and psychological needs of consumers of mental health services might qualify
plaintiff as being organized for the moral and mental improvement of men, women
and children. See alsoSchizophrenia Found. of N.J. v. Montgomery Tp.,
6 N.J.
Tax 594, 598, 601 (Tax 1984), revd on other grounds,
6 N.J. Tax 439 (App. Div. 1984) (concluding that claimant was organized for moral and mental
improvement of men, women, and children where one of its stated purposes was
to assist the schizophrenic patient to rehabilitate and readjust to society). Footnote: 10
The case managers provided by Salt and Light met and counseled each
resident at least twice a week in forty-five to ninety minute sessions. They
provided assistance and advice in obtaining employment, medical care, childcare, education, and job
training. In addition, they taught residents basic living skills, such as cleaning and
cooking.
Salt and Light Co., supra, 15 N.J. Tax at 282. In Essex
Properties, Inc., supra, 20 N.J. Tax at 367, the Tax Court found that
the social workers provided by Essex Properties were paid through government funding and
there was no evidence as to what services were provided by those social
workers.
Footnote: 11
In Salt and Light Co., supra,
15 N.J. Tax 274, the Tax
Court noted that, had there not been the issue of government funding involved
in that case, there would have been no question that providing housing to
the homeless on a not-for-profit basis qualifies as a charitable use. Id. at
285. The Tax Court further stated that, both the legislative and executive branches
of government have recognized that government has an obligation to meet the needs
of the homeless. Ibid. Footnote: 12
The court notes that the U.S. Conference of Mayors estimates that 23% of
the homeless population in America is mentally disabled. (U.S. Conf. of Mayors, A
Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness in America's Cities: 2002 (Dec. 2002) at
p. 61.)
Footnote: 13 The court reiterated the holding in
Methodist Old Peoples Home v. Korzen,
233 N.E.2d 537 (Ill. 1968), which stated:
While charging fees would not necessarily remove plaintiff from the category of a
charitable institution the fact that it allocates living space from the standpoint of
desirability of location and size on the basis of the amount of the
Founders Fees and monthly charges paid by a resident seems to us lacking
in the warmth and spontaneity indicative of charitable impulse. Rather, it seems more
related to the bargaining of the commercial market place.
[Id. at 542].
Footnote: 14
Elizabeth contends that CAU has not established the market rents of the
subject properties. However, CAU provided the court with the Fair Market Rents for
Existing Housing, published in the Federal Register, Vol. 67, No. 189 on September
30, 2002, which indicates that the fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment
in Union County, New Jersey is $949 per month. It further indicates that
the fair market rent for a three-bedroom apartment in Union County, New Jersey
is $1,195 per month. Elizabeth did not refute this information or otherwise provide
the court with market rental data that refuted, contradicted, discredited, or rendered unreliable
the data provided by CAU.
SeeIn re Adoption of a Child of
Indian Heritage,
219 N.J. Super. 28, 41 (App.Div. 1987), aff'd,
111 N.J. 155
(l988) (where the court acknowledges that guidelines found in the Federal Register are
not binding but do provide useful guidance).