The General Assembly finds that: many residents of the State live in dwellings that do not conform to building, health, safety, fire, occupancy, or other codes and standards applicable to housing; many communities or political subdivisions in the State do not have a minimum livability code; and these conditions impede the development and maintenance of healthy, safe, and viable communities; private sector financing is often unavailable for rehabilitation because: owner–occupants of housing in need of rehabilitation often have low incomes; and nonoccupant owners often incur high risks in owning and managing the housing; rehabilitating suitable housing: increases the economic life of the housing; is often more economical and less disruptive than replacing the housing and relocating its occupants; can better promote community development when it is done through organized housing rehabilitation programs; is essential for sound community development; and can be helped by rehabilitating commercial buildings serving communities where housing rehabilitation is desirable; it is a proper public purpose for which public money may be spent and property acquired to: rehabilitate housing; develop healthful, safe, and viable communities; rehabilitate commercial buildings to help rehabilitate and develop housing; and provide healthful and safe housing for migratory workers to maintain and expand the agricultural activities that are dependent on the labor of these workers; and it is a proper public purpose for which public money may be spent to: improve, modify, and add to housing to increase the supply of special housing for special populations, such as elderly households, individuals with disabilities, and other disadvantaged residents of the State; prevent lead poisoning by modifying older housing to provide a lead–safe environment, as lead paint in older housing is a major source of lead poisoning in children; provide adequate indoor plumbing, water supply, and sewage disposal systems for dwellings; and reduce or eliminate radon and asbestos, which are major detriments to the health and safety of residents, on a pilot program basis.