Section 8-3-170. Legislative findings; powers and duties of State Office of Housing

   The General Assembly finds and declares that housing is an issue of paramount concern to this state which affects the health, welfare, and safety of the citizens of this state and the economic viability and planned growth of its communities. The General Assembly further finds and declares that the provision of and planning for housing and housing related matters are issues that are intrinsically intertwined with the ability to provide for the financing of housing activities. For this reason, the General Assembly designates the Georgia Housing and Finance Authority as the State Office of Housing and assigns it the following powers and duties:

   (1) To be responsible for the planning, development, and implementation of a coordinated state housing program;

   (2) To provide technical and financial assistance on housing and housing related matters throughout the state;

   (3) To perform such housing related duties as may be assigned it by the Governor or the General Assembly;

   (4) To apply for and receive and to administer federal funds under any federal housing program for which the state is an eligible applicant and, in the administration of such funds, to enter into such contracts as it deems necessary and to expend such state funds as the General Assembly may appropriate for such purposes;

   (5) To coordinate activities and work in conjunction with the Farmers Home Administration, which activities may include, but not be limited to, processing loan applicants and loans, community outreach activities, and financial assistance in the form of interest or down payment subsidies or write-downs; and

   (6) To coordinate housing related activities and work in conjunction with private, federal, or quasi-governmental entities, which entities shall include, but not be limited to, the Federal Housing Administration, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, and the Government National Mortgage Association.

Code 1981, § 8-3-170, enacted by Ga. L. 1991, p. 1653, § 1-1.