(1) Throughout this State, there is a shortage of adequate shelter for South Carolinians including the availability of an affordable residence or permanent domicile with adequate privacy, space, physical accessibility, security, structural stability and durability, and adequate electrical, plumbing, and heating systems.

(2) Private enterprise and investment has not produced, without government assistance, the needed construction of sanitary, decent, and safe residential housing that people with lower incomes can afford to buy or rent.

(3) The public’s health, safety, and economic interests are best served by the provision of permanent affordable housing because such housing enables South Carolinians to maintain employment, assists this state’s children to succeed in school, and helps this state’s economic growth and prosperity.

(B) The purpose of this chapter is to authorize a local government to individually or jointly create and operate a local housing trust fund or regional housing trust fund to promote the development of affordable housing, as defined in this chapter.