The Legislature finds and declares that there exists within the urban and rural areas of the state a significant number of persons without decent, safe, and sanitary housing. This shortage is inimical to the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of this state and the sound growth of its communities. Without the assistance contemplated in this division, it is not financially feasible for private enterprise and private investors to provide decent, safe, and sanitary emergency housing for persons who are homeless.
The Legislature also finds and declares that in order to remedy the emergency shelter shortages, it is necessary to implement a public program incorporating all of the following elements and goals:
(a) An increase in the supply of decent, safe, and sanitary emergency shelters available to the homeless.
(b) Maximum utilization of state, local, and federal subsidies available to meet the emergency shelter needs of the homeless.
(c) Maximum utilization of tax increment moneys generated by city and county redevelopment programs for the construction and maintenance of decent, safe, and sanitary emergency shelters.
(d) Encourage the utilization of unused or underutilized public facilities which could be converted to decent, safe, and sanitary emergency shelters for the homeless.
(e) Preservation of existing housing opportunities for very low income households, including, but not limited to, residential hotels.
(f) Prevention of the displacement of very low income households from existing housing.
(Added by Stats. 1984, Ch. 1691, Sec. 5. Effective September 30, 1984.)