Section 25. It is hereby declared that substandard and decadent areas exist in certain portions of the commonwealth, and that there is not in the commonwealth, within a reasonable distance of the principal centers of employment, an adequate supply of low-rent housing for families of low income; that in certain portions of the commonwealth decent, safe and sanitary housing cannot be provided for families of low income in rural areas at a cost which would warrant private enterprise in the locality or in the same general area to provide an adequate supply thereof; that this situation tends to cause an increase and spread of disease and crime and constitutes a menace to the health, safety, morals, welfare and comfort of the inhabitants of the commonwealth and is detrimental to property values therein; that this situation cannot readily be remedied by the ordinary operations of private enterprise; that a public exigency exists which makes the clearance of substandard or decadent areas and the provision of housing for persons of low income a public necessity; that the clearance of substandard and decadent areas and the provision of housing for persons of low income, or either, constitute a public use for which private property may be acquired by eminent domain and public funds raised by taxation may be expended; and the enactment of sections one to forty-four of this chapter is declared to be a public necessity. Moreover, it is hereby declared that substandard and decadent areas can often be eliminated only by the development of housing of persons of varied economic means in the same project and neighborhood and that any benefit to tenants other than low or moderate income tenants provided under this chapter will be at most incidental to, and no greater than is necessary for, achieving proper housing in appropriate surroundings for low income persons and families.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Chapter 121b - Housing and Urban Renewal
Section 3 - Housing Authorities; Creation; Dissolution
Section 3a - Regional Housing Authorities; Creation; Dissolution
Section 4 - Redevelopment Authorities; Creation; Dissolution
Section 5 - Housing and Redevelopment Authorities; Membership; Appointment; Election; Term of Office
Section 5a - Waiver of Requirement to Appoint Tenant Member to Housing Authority Board
Section 7a - Guidelines for Contracts to Be Executed by Housing Authority and Executive Director
Section 8 - Operating Agencies; Housing Authorities
Section 9 - Urban Renewal Agencies
Section 10 - Operating Agencies; Designation of Authorities
Section 11 - Powers of Operating Agencies
Section 12 - Operating Agencies; Wages; Labor Requirements; Social Security
Section 14 - Operating Agencies; Federal Loans; Conveyance Upon Default
Section 15 - Operating Agencies; Bonds, Notes, Certificates; Negotiable Instruments
Section 17 - Liability of Commonwealth or Political Subdivisions for Debts of Housing Authority
Section 18 - Preparation of Master Plans, Etc. by City or Town; Appropriation and Payment
Section 21 - Indebtedness Limitation
Section 24 - Agreement to Bear Acquisition Loss
Section 25 - Housing Programs; Statement of Emergency
Section 26 - Powers of a Housing Authority
Section 26b - Performance-Based Monitoring Program; Assessment Standards
Section 27 - Rural Housing Authority; Additional Powers
Section 28a - Annual Plan; Availability to Public for Review and Comment
Section 30 - Contract With Federal Government; Acquiring Federally Owned Project
Section 32a - Parking Areas; Rules and Regulations; Towing
Section 32d - Actions by Tenants or Tenants' Organizations
Section 32e - Jurisdiction Over Civil Actions; Appellate Review
Section 33 - Equivalent Elimination of Substandard Dwelling Units
Section 34 - State and Federal Financial Assistance; General Provisions
Section 35 - Contracts for Supplementary State Financial Assistance
Section 36 - Receipt of Loans and Grants From Federal Sources or From Other Sources
Section 38 - Housing for the Elderly and the Handicapped; Declaration of Policy
Section 38a - Bureau of Housing for the Handicapped; Director; Functions
Section 38b - Housing for the Elderly and the Handicapped; Service Coordinator Program
Section 38c - Program to Conduct Annual Surveys of Public Housing Residents
Section 40 - Provisions Applicable to Housing for Elderly and Handicapped Persons of Low Income
Section 41 - State Financial Assistance; Housing for Elderly Persons of Low Income
Section 41a - State Financial Assistance; Housing for Handicapped Persons of Low Income
Section 42 - Rental Assistance Program; Declaration of Necessity
Section 43a - Rental Assistance Program; Relocation of Residents; Leased Housing Units
Section 44 - Rental Assistance Program; Rentals and Tenant Selection
Section 45 - Urban Renewal Programs Declaration of Necessity
Section 46 - Powers of Urban Renewal Agency
Section 47 - Urban Renewal Programs; Acquisition by Eminent Domain; Notice; Petition
Section 48 - Public Hearing; Notice; Urban Renewal Plans; Approval; Acquisition of Property
Section 49 - Sale or Lease of Property Acquired for Urban Renewal Project
Section 50 - Delegation of Power to Municipality to Plan and Undertake Urban Renewal Project
Section 51 - Redevelopment Authority Taking Over Project Initiated by Housing Authority
Section 52 - Accounts and Reports of Urban Renewal Agencies; Civil Service Rules
Section 55 - State Aid for Urban Renewal; Certification and Payment of Grants
Section 56 - State Aid for Urban Renewal; Contract to Provide Financial Assistance
Section 57 - State Aid for Urban Renewal; Advance of Funds; Amount; Payments
Section 58 - Other Urban Renewal Programs; Declaration of Necessity
Section 59 - Contracts for State Financial Assistance; Rehabilitation Projects
Section 60 - Housing Preservation and Stabilization Trust Fund