HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 72

(By Delegates Mazzocchi, Adkins, Anderson, Brooks, Clark, Cooper, Crouse, Dean, DeVault, Ferrell, Forsht, Hillenbrand, Hite, Holstein, honaker, Hott, Howell, Jeffries, Jennings, Kelly, Kirby, Lucas, Mallow, Marple, Miller, Nestor, Petitto, C. Pritt, Ridenour, Sheedy, Steele, Storch, Tully, Ward, Westfall, Willis, Worrell, and Zatezalo)

March 8, 2023

Referred to the Committee on Rules

Requesting that the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study the effect of the establishment of the Whole-Home Repairs Act of 2023 and the Act's efficacy to address the issues of blighted homes, workforce retention, seniors aging in place, and emigration away from our area.

Whereas, The Legislature finds that blight in our communities, a failure to retain West Virginia's workforce, seniors aging in place, and emigration away from West Virginia are issues that are negatively affecting our state; and

Whereas, The Legislature finds that a pilot program, described in the Whole-Home Repair Act of 2023, will work to rectify these issues with grants made available to the local jurisdictions as well as nongovernmental organizations from federal and state governments; and

Whereas, The Legislature finds that these grants will help to fix and renovate blight-stricken homes, including those of West Virginia's seniors, which would allow those seniors to remain in their homes; and

Whereas, The Legislature finds that these seniors, as well as other people these grants will assist, will be more likely to remain in West Virginia, continue to work, and contribute to the economy of West Virginia; and

Whereas, The Legislature finds that this program will lead to job retention and job creation due to those people assisted staying in West Virginia as well as the jobs that will be created during the revitalization of West Virginia homes; and

Whereas, The Legislature finds that small businesses, local contractors hired by county governments for the revitalization projects, and the local economies of the towns in West Virginia will benefit from this program; and

Whereas, The Legislature finds that these grants, administered to local agencies, will help improve habitability concerns in owner occupied and rental properties, improve coordination of the home repair programs, and increase retention in workforce development programs; and

Whereas, The Legislature finds that the best method of fund management will be that the Treasurer shall invest the money for this program in the same manner as other state money being invested; and

Whereas, The Legislature finds that "affordable housing costs", meaning housing costs that do not exceed 30 percent of a household's income, will benefit from this program; and

Whereas, The Legislature finds that the local administering agencies will best utilize the funds generated by this program by providing financial assistance to residential property owners not to exceed $50,000 per unit to address habitability, energy and water efficiency, and making units available for individuals with disabilities; and

Whereas, The Legislature finds that these funds will also be best used by local administering agencies to help train, prepare, and retain personnel necessary to implement the program through case management and the design of universal application procedures, coordinated wait-lists, program evaluation, and referrals where appropriate;  and

Whereas, The Legislature finds that the financial assistance will be provided to any homeowner whose household income does not exceed 50 percent of the area median income will be in the form of a grant and that financial assistance to small landlords renting affordable units shall be in the form of a forgivable loan recorded against a mortgage security if that landlord offers to extend leases of current occupants by three years, any serious violations within the past 15 years have been rectified within six months of notification, the landlord has maintained ownership of the unit for more than 15 years, and the annual increase in rent has not exceeded three percent for the past 15 years or the unit has been occupied by a tenant participating in the rental assistance program; and

Whereas, The Legislature finds that reporting on a yearly and regular basis will assist in the oversight and evaluation of the program's efficacy; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study the efficacy of the program as outlined in this resolution and provided consultation on the adjustment, establishment, and implementation of the Whole-Home Repairs Act of 2023.

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.