Section 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.