New Jersey § 52:27d-183

§ 52:27d-183.

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.