Findings, declarations.

2. a. It is the long-standing policy of this State that no person should suffer unnecessarily from cold or hunger, or be deprived of shelter. b. At the present time, many persons have been rendered homeless as a result of economic adversity, a severe shortage of affordable housing, and increased stress due to the complexity of daily living. c. It is both more economical and more socially desirable to place homeless people in suitable apartments, or to enable people to retain possession of their houses or apartments and thereby avoid homelessness than to house them in hotel rooms or in other facilities intended for short-term occupancy. d. The Department of Community Affairs has had extensive experience in the administration of the federal section 8 existing housing and moderate rehabilitation rental assistance programs and is therefore the most appropriate agency to administer a program providing temporary rental or other housing assistance to persons who are homeless or in imminent danger of homelessness by reason of inablility to pay rent or other housing costs. L.1984,c.180,s.2.