52:27D-183 - Legislative findings and declarations - New Jersey Statutes

52:27D-183.  Legislative findings and declarations
    The Legislature finds and declares that:  the housing requirements of the growing population of senior citizens are significantly different from the rest  of the population due to functional or social impairments and progressive  limitations of mobility and physical capabilities over time; as a result of  the absence of specially designed housing with supportive services, elderly  persons suffering from short-term or permanent disability or the natural  consequences of aging are often subject to inappropriate, premature or  overextended institutionalization resulting in overutilization of costly services and the negative impact of the institutional environment on the individual's emotional and physical well-being;  a need exists to fill this gap  in the housing continuum between independent living and institutionalization  for those senior citizens who do not require highly intensive support systems  yet cannot maintain a totally independent lifestyle;  congregate housing has  proven to be a successful and cost effective means of fulfilling basic shelter  and everyday service needs of elderly persons thereby enabling them to preserve  their dignity and independence in a secure environment.

    The Legislature further finds and declares that critical deficiencies in the  availability of congregate housing services are partially attributable to the  inability of a large percentage of the elderly population on fixed or limited  incomes to absorb the cost of the services as part of the rental payments.

    The Legislature, therefore, declares it to be the policy of this State to promote the health, safety and welfare of its senior citizens by encouraging the development of congregate facilities where none presently exist and by providing financial assistance to those frail elderly persons who are in need of basic services but cannot afford the cost of such services.  The Legislature  further declares that the provision of congregate housing service subsidies for  frail elderly persons is a public purpose for which moneys may be expended or  granted and the enactment of this act is in the public interest.

     L.1981, c. 553, s. 2.