(1) The division has the following functions:

(a) To encourage private enterprise and all public and private agencies engaged in the planning, construction, and acquisition of adequate housing or the rehabilitation or weatherization of existing housing in Colorado by providing research, advisory, and liaison services and rehabilitation, construction, acquisition, and weatherization grants from appropriations made for this purpose by the general assembly. For the purposes of this paragraph (a), "weatherization" means the provision and installation of materials and devices which improve the thermal performance of a residence so as to conserve energy and reduce energy costs and includes those structural, heating, electrical, and plumbing repairs and improvements which are necessary to safely and effectively improve thermal performance. All such grants to public and private agencies shall be at least equally matched from a nonstate source and shall be for providing energy-efficient housing to low-income households. None of these grants shall be used for development, planning, or administration which shall be funded within the administrative budget of the division.

(b) To assist local communities in the development and operation of local housing authorities;

(c) To encourage and promote cooperation among counties and municipalities to jointly establish and operate housing authorities;

(d) Repealed.

(e) To conduct continuing research into new approaches to housing throughout the state including, but not limited to, the following:

(I) and (II) Repealed.

(III) Programs for low-income housing throughout the state designed to discourage concentration in urban centers and particularly in urban center ghettos;

(f) To investigate living, dwelling, and housing conditions in the state and the means and methods of correcting unsafe, unsanitary, or substandard conditions;

(g) To enter upon buildings or property in order to conduct investigations or to make surveys or soundings. In the event the division is unable to obtain permission for such entry, the director may petition the district court in which the property is located for an order authorizing such entry. Upon a finding by the court that the order requested is reasonably necessary to carry out the intent of this part 7, the order shall be granted.

(h) To make available to responsible agencies, boards, commissions, or other governmental agencies its findings and recommendations with regard to any building or property where conditions exist which are unsafe, unsanitary, or substandard;

(i) To accept and receive grants and services from the federal government and other sources and to process such grants and services for other public and private nonprofit agencies and corporations;

(j) To enforce the provisions of part 9 of this article and the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto;

(k) To provide training and technical assistance to counties and municipalities which have building codes in the development of energy efficiency construction and renovation performance standards by such local governments;

(l) To provide in graphic illustrations and charts the information needed by a person who applies for or obtains a homeowner's permit to build his own home to correlate the R-values to the U-values of the more energy conserving performance standards as found in section 6-7-105 (2), C.R.S. This information shall be distributed to local building departments and building material supply outlets in the state and shall be given to builders and unlicensed persons who apply for or obtain homeowners' permits to build their own homes.

(m) To provide technical assistance to building officials, who shall instruct persons who apply for or obtain homeowners' permits to build their own homes on the use of the information provided in paragraph (l) of this subsection (1);

(n) Pursuant to section 24-32-717, to administer loans to local housing authorities and public and private nonprofit corporations;

(o) Repealed.

(p) Pursuant to section 24-32-718, to maintain a database of affordable housing units to be lost as affordable housing;

(q) to (s) Repealed.

(t) To serve as the sole state agency for the purpose of administering and distributing financial housing assistance to persons in low- and moderate-income households and to persons with disabilities and assist such persons in obtaining housing, including, without limitation, rental assistance.

(2) The division, through the director thereof, shall serve in an advisory capacity to the state housing and finance authority, created by part 7 of article 4 of title 29, C.R.S., and shall provide information on the housing facility needs of low- and moderate-income families in the state of Colorado.

(3) Repealed.