In addition to the findings and declarations in ss. 420.0002, 420.502, 421.02, 422.02, and 423.01, which are hereby reaffirmed, the Legislature finds that:(1) Decent, safe, and sanitary housing for persons of very low income, low income, and moderate income are a critical need in the state.
(2) New and rehabilitated housing must be provided at a cost affordable to such persons in order to alleviate this critical need.
(3) The private sector housing construction industry primarily produces housing units for middle-income households and upper-income households and often has limited experience in housing development which provides quality housing for low-income persons in economically declining or distressed areas.
(4) Among other things, the high cost of project financing tends to restrict the development of housing affordable to very-low-income persons, low-income persons, and moderate-income persons.
(5) For these reasons, private capital and existing state housing programs do not provide an adequate remedy to this situation.
(6) Special programs are needed to stimulate private enterprise to build and rehabilitate housing in order to help eradicate slum conditions and provide housing for very-low-income persons, low-income persons, and moderate-income persons as a matter of public purpose.
(7) Public-private partnerships are an essential means of bringing together resources to provide affordable housing.
(8) The department shall facilitate the mobilization of public and private resources to provide affordable housing through its responsibilities in the areas of housing, comprehensive planning, and community assistance.
