Authority: Title 36, Chapter 8, Code of Virginia.

As a condition of this appropriation, the Department of Housing and Community Development shall work towards accomplishing these goals and strategies in the 2004-2006 biennium:

A. In the program area of economic development, the department shall target community economic development activities to distressed areas of the Commonwealth with a goal of creating or retaining 4,500 jobs and stimulating new private investment of $110 million that can be directly tied to the department's efforts in each year of the biennium.

B. In the program area of infrastructure development, the department shall provide access to new safe drinking water and approved wastewater disposal systems to households. The goal is to provide new water and/or wastewater service to 1,500 households through the department's projects in each year of the biennium.

C. In the program area of fire and building safety, the department shall increase fire safety in buildings subject to inspection by the State Fire Marshal's Office. The goal is to eliminate fire code violations by inspecting 4,000 buildings annually and bringing 95 percent of the buildings into compliance with the Statewide Fire Prevention Code in each year of the biennium.

D. In the program area of housing assistance, the department shall increase the availability of decent, safe and affordable housing to individuals and families at 60 percent of median income or below. The goal is to produce 100 units of new affordable rental housing, improve 2,950 units of substandard housing and provide homeownership opportunities to 400 households in each year of the biennium.

E. In the program area of homelessness, the department shall reduce the number of families and individuals experiencing homelessness. The goal is to prevent 2,400 households from becoming homeless and to move 5,000 homeless individuals and families into permanent housing in each year of the biennium.

F.  The department shall submit a progress report to the General Assembly on its efforts to achieve the goals and objectives set out in this item.  The Department shall submit the report by the first day of the 2006 Session of the General Assembly.