a. Recent high levels of unemployment and low levels of housing production, particularly of housing affordable to low income persons, have combined to increase the number of people lacking housing, beyond the capacity of existing facilities.

b. There is an ever present need for the emergency shelter for victims of fire, natural disasters, domestic violence and other causes of homelessness.

c. It is a matter of urgent public concern that safe and habitable shelter be available at all times to all residents of this State, and that governmental procedures be expedited if this shelter is to be provided.

d. The Department of Community Affairs is the agency of State government responsible for enforcing the “State Uniform Construction Code Act,” P.L. 1975, c. 217 (C. 52:27D-119 et seq.), the “Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law,” P.L. 1967, c. 76 (C. 55:13A-1 et seq.), and the “Rooming and Boarding House Act of 1979,” P.L. 1979, c. 496 (C. 55:13B-1 et aL. ), and it, therefore, has the staff and the expertise needed to establish uniform regulations concerning emergency shelters for the homeless; and the Departments of Human Services and Health are required to work together with the Department of Community Affairs in the implementation of the “Rooming and Boarding House Act of 1979.”

L. 1985, c. 48, s. 1, eff. Feb. 13, 1985.