§ 901. Declaration of legislative findings. The legislature hereby finds and declares that there has developed in recent years, in various municipalities of the state, a growth of community-based not-for-profit organizations, originating for the most part within and organized by residents of neighborhoods which are characterized by a predominance of residents of low income and a residential housing stock which is largely old, deteriorating and substandard.

The legislature further finds that the involvement of the residents of various municipalities of the state in neighborhood preservation activities in their respective neighborhoods, through the media of locally-based, not-for-profit organizations responsive to the needs of the residents, is in the public interest and may be expected to produce increased renovation and rehabilitation of existing but deteriorating housing accommodations, improvement in housing code enforcement and the correction, removal and repair of substandard housing and housing conditions dangerous to life, safety or health. Such involvement in neighborhood preservation activities may also be expected to produce reduced abandonment of housing, which the legislature finds to be increasing in many neighborhoods of the state and to be continuing to cause shortages of housing accommodations for persons and families of low income and the relocation of such families from neighborhoods to which they have developed strong emotional as well as economic attachments.

The legislature further finds that many municipalities throughout the state are now receiving or will receive monies under federal programs, that such funds may be used and applied by such municipalities for the neighborhood preservation activities referred to in this article and that an efficient and effective use of such funds and the public interest will be promoted by the active involvement of various not-for-profit organizations.

The legislature further finds that numerous not-for-profit organizations which have arisen throughout the state are heavily dependent upon voluntary services of neighborhood residents; that such organizations are dependent in part for operating funds upon fees generated by the management of housing accommodations; that such organizations are dependent for the remainder of their operating funds, to a significant extent, upon gifts and grants from private individuals, corporations and foundations; that such financial assistance is inherently uncertain and covers expenses only over short periods of time, thereby causing such organizations to be inadequately financed, unable to plan any long range housing activities and unable to attract, employ or contract with needed experts and technicians for assistance to implementing neighborhood preservation programs; and that it is a proper and necessary public purpose and activity of the state to assure the adequate funding of not-for-profit organizations which are active in neighborhood preservation activities.

The necessity in the public interest for the provisions hereinafter enacted is hereby declared as a matter of legislative determination.