The State is experiencing severe shortages of affordable housing in various parts of the State. The affordable housing shortage is also contributing to an increasing class of working poor people and creating severe hardships for a significant number of the State's citizens. Municipalities feel the impact of the affordable housing shortage and find it difficult to deal with the problem with their inadequate resources. By working together, sharing resources and using more comprehensive measures, the State and its municipalities can more effectively address the shortage of affordable housing and the many other problems stemming from this housing shortage.   [PL 1989, c. 48, §§3, 31 (NEW).]