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2000 SESSION

008197724
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 256
Offered January 24, 2000
Requesting the Virginia Housing Study Commission, with assistance from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, to study the need for and make recommendations to foster the improvement of organizational infrastructure, outreach efforts, technical assistance, and construction services for indoor plumbing installation in the homes of those rural Virginians living without indoor plumbing.
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Patrons-- Stump, Almand, Cantor, Diamonstein, Drake, Hall, Phillips, Scott, Williams and Woodrum; Senator: Mims
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, the Commonwealth has identified the lack of indoor plumbing in thousands of homes statewide as a concern; and

WHEREAS, it is estimated that more than 41,000 Virginians, many of them elderly, chronically ill, or disabled, are currently living without basic indoor plumbing facilities; and

WHEREAS, lack of indoor plumbing presents not only grave health risks but also socioeconomic and environmental concerns; and

WHEREAS, many rural areas are isolated and difficult to reach; and

WHEREAS, this isolation may result in limited knowledge on the part of many rural homeless persons of programs which could assist them; and

WHEREAS, without receiving information about indoor plumbing installation assistance programs many rural Virginians currently living without basic facilities will continue to do so; and

WHEREAS, the installation of indoor plumbing in rural areas is a complex, highly regulated activity; and

WHEREAS, such installation presents difficult and challenging delivery and working conditions; and

WHEREAS, particularly in times of economic expansion, contractors qualified to install well and septic systems and indoor plumbing facilities are in short supply; and

WHEREAS, there are fewer overall delivery systems in rural areas than in urban and suburban locales; and

WHEREAS, many properties lacking indoor plumbing are owned by numerous heirs, therefore requiring time-consumptive title searches to comply with lending requirements for financial assistance; and

WHEREAS, many rural residents are reluctant to ask for assistance, despite great need and hardship; and

WHEREAS, it is in the interest of the Commonwealth and its citizens to assist those rural Virginians living without indoor plumbing; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Virginia Housing Study Commission, with assistance from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, be requested to study the need for and make recommendations to foster the improvement of organizational infrastructure, outreach efforts, technical assistance, and construction services for indoor plumbing installation in the homes of those rural Virginians living without indoor plumbing.

All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Commission for this study, upon request.

The Commission shall complete its work in time to submit its findings and report on its progress to the Governor and the 2001 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.