The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a)  That in addition to the need for housing described in this chapter as community housing developments, there is an additional critical need for smaller scale congregate housing suitable to single-parent households in which families share large, multibedroom houses with common living areas and who share child care, cleaning, cooking, and other household responsibilities.

(b)  That congregate housing can be constructed or converted at little more cost than conventional housing, and at less cost than conventional apartment houses. The purposes of this housing can be achieved through a combination of innovative and traditional designs, including, but not limited to, the construction of “flexibility” houses where only the exterior walls and those around the kitchen and bathroom are permanent, or the use of large rooms with interior sliding doors or screens to provide for personal or social spaces.

(c)  That this type of housing can reduce reliance on public assistance; increase self-reliance and joint problem solving; assist single parents to obtain and keep employment; provide fulfilling activity for elderly or handicapped persons; provide for more economical use of housing stock; and ensure the use of scarce family resources in a manner which maximizes the health, safety, and development of children and younger single parents. Notwithstanding all of these benefits, there are no public programs that assist in the provision or financing of this housing, and private financing or provision of this housing is almost nonexistent.

(Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 67, Sec. 29. Effective July 6, 1999. Operative July 6, 1999, pursuant to Sec. 45 of Ch. 67.)