The following terms, wherever used or referred to in this chapter, shall have the following
respective meanings, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
1.“Agency” or “municipal housing agency” shall mean a public agency created under the
provisions of section 403A.5.
2.An“agreement”ofanymunicipalityauthorizedbythischapterwithrespecttoahousing
project, means a resolution or resolutions of the governing body of such municipality setting
forth the action to be taken or the matter determined. Such resolutions shall be deemed to
be agreements made for the benefit of the holders of bonds then outstanding or thereafter
issued in connection with such project and for the benefit of any person, firm, corporation,
state public body or the federal government which has agreed or
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The following terms, wherever used or referred to in this chapter, shall have the following
respective meanings, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
1. “Agency” or “municipal housing agency” shall mean a public agency created under the
provisions of section 403A.5.
2. An“agreement”ofanymunicipalityauthorizedbythischapterwithrespecttoahousing
project, means a resolution or resolutions of the governing body of such municipality setting
forth the action to be taken or the matter determined. Such resolutions shall be deemed to
be agreements made for the benefit of the holders of bonds then outstanding or thereafter
issued in connection with such project and for the benefit of any person, firm, corporation,
state public body or the federal government which has agreed or thereafter agrees to make a
grant or annual contribution for or in aid of such project.
3. “Area of operation” includes all of a municipality and any area adjacent to and within
one mile of such municipality, provided that the governing body of such adjacent area
approves and consents.
4. “Bonds” means any bonds, notes, interim certificates, debentures or other obligations
issued by a municipality pursuant to this chapter.
5. “Clerk” means the clerk of the municipality or the officer charged with the duties
customarily imposed on such clerk.
6. a. “Families of low income” means families who cannot afford to pay enough to cause
private enterprise in their locality or metropolitan area to build an adequate supply of decent,
safe and sanitary dwellings for their use.
b. “Lower-income families” means families whose incomes do not exceed eighty percent
of the median income for the area with adjustments for the size of the family or other
adjustments necessary due to unusual prevailing conditions in the area.
c. “Very low-income families” means families whose incomes do not exceed fifty percent
of the median income for the area with adjustments for the size of the family or other
adjustments necessary due to unusual prevailing conditions in the area.
§403A.2, MUNICIPAL HOUSING PROJECTS 2
d. “Families” includes, but is not limited to, families consisting of a single person in the
case of any of the following:
(1) A person who is at least sixty-two years of age.
(2) A person with a disability.
(3) A displaced person.
(4) The remaining member of a tenant family.
e. “Families”includestwoormorepersonslivingtogether, whoareatleastsixty-twoyears
of age, are persons with a disability, or one or more such individuals living with another
person who is essential to such individual’s care or well-being.
f. “Disability” means inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason
of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment, or having a physical or
mental impairment which is expected to be of long-continued and indefinite duration,
substantially impedes the ability to live independently, and is of a nature that the ability to
live independently could be improved by more suitable housing conditions.
g. “Displaced” means displaced by governmental action, or having one’s dwelling
extensively damaged or destroyed as a result of a disaster.
h. The municipality, by resolution, or the agency by rule shall establish further definitions
applicabletothissubsectionasnecessarytoassureeligibilityforfundsavailableunderfederal
housing laws.
7. “Federal government” includes the United States of America, the Public Housing
Administration, or any other agency or instrumentality, corporate or otherwise of the United
States of America.
8. a. “Housing project” or “project” means any work or undertaking to do any of the
following:
(1) To demolish, clear or remove buildings from any slum areas.
(2) To provide decent, safe and sanitary urban or rural dwellings, apartments or other
livingaccommodationsforfamiliesoflowincome, lower-incomefamilies, orverylow-income
families.
(3) To accomplish a combination of the foregoing.
b. Such work or undertaking may include buildings, land, equipment, facilities and
other real or personal property for necessary, convenient or desirable appurtenances,
streets, sewers, water service, utilities, parks, site preparation, landscaping, administrative,
community, health, recreational, welfare or other purposes.
c. The term “housing project” or “project” also may be applied to the planning of
the buildings and improvements, the acquisition of property, the demolition of existing
structures, the construction, reconstruction, alteration, or repair of the improvements and
all other work in connection therewith, and the term shall include all other real and personal
property and all tangible or intangible assets held or used in connection with the housing
project.
9. “Local governing body” shall mean the council or other legislative body charged with
governing the municipality.
10. “Major disaster” means any flood, drought, fire, hurricane, earthquake, storm or
other catastrophe which, in the determination of the governing body, is of sufficient severity
and magnitude to warrant the use of available resources of the federal, state and local
governments to alleviate the damage, hardship or suffering caused thereby.
11. “Mayor” means the mayor of the municipality or the officer thereof charged with the
duties customarily imposed on the mayor or executive head of a municipality.
12. “Municipality” shall mean any city or county in the state.
13. “Obligee” includes any bondholder, agent or trustee for any bondholder, or lessor
demising to a municipality, property used in connection with a project, or any assignee or
assignees of such lessor’s interest or any part thereof, and the federal government when it is
a party to any contract with the municipality in respect to a housing project.
14. “Persons engaged in national defense activities” means persons in the armed forces
of the United States; employees of the department of defense; and workers engaged or to be
engaged in activities connected with national defense. The term also includes the families of
the persons, employees and workers who reside with them.
3 MUNICIPAL HOUSING PROJECTS, §403A.3
15. “Real property” includes all lands, including improvements and fixtures thereon, and
propertyofanynatureappurtenantthereto,orusedinconnectiontherewith,andeveryestate,
interest and right, legal or equitable, therein, including terms for years.
16. “Slum”meansanyareawheredwellingspredominatewhichbyreasonofdilapidation,
overcrowding, faulty arrangement or design, lack of ventilation, light or sanitary facilities, or
any combination of these factors, are detrimental to safety, health and morals.
17. “State public body” means any city, county, township, municipal corporation,
commission, district or other subdivision or public body of the state.