Section 27. If a housing authority organized in a city or town in which rural areas are located shall undertake the provision of housing for families of low income in such rural areas, it shall comply with the following provisions and shall have the following powers, in addition to others specifically granted in this chapter:—(i) The same preference shall be given to families of veterans as is provided in clause (f) of section thirty-two. (ii) So far as practicable, such housing shall consist of separate single-family houses. (iii) A housing authority which has undertaken housing in rural areas shall have the power to lease or sell houses erected or acquired by it, and, in case of sale, to impose such covenants, which shall run with the land if the housing authority so stipulates, regarding the land and the buildings thereon as it deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter. In case of lease, the lessee shall have the option to purchase such house at any time during his occupancy thereof at the price designated in his lease. When any such option is exercised, the purchaser shall be given credit for payments made by him which were applied toward amortizing the cost of the house, and in case the lease with option to purchase, has been assigned to him by a previous lessee, such credit shall include such payments made by previous lessees. (iv) Until a purchaser makes full payment for a house constructed by a housing authority under this subsection the title to such house shall remain in the housing authority regardless of ownership of the land. (v) Provision for farm housing for families of low income shall be subject to the following conditions:—(1) Before housing is constructed on a farm, the United States department of agriculture, or the United States department of the interior in the case of farms included in reclamation projects of that department through such representatives as it may designate shall certify that the net annual income of the farm, together with the nonfarm income of those to be housed, is less than the amount necessary to enable them otherwise to obtain and maintain decent, safe and sanitary housing and that the construction of a suitable type house on the farm is consistent with the respective programs of the department involved; (2) Based upon the normal earning capacity of the farm, as certified by the United States department of agriculture or department of the interior, the housing authority shall determine that the farm owner can meet at least the minimum payments required of him; (3) In developing standards as to what constitutes decent, safe and sanitary dwellings, the housing authority shall take into consideration the needs of the family for which such housing is to be used; (4) With respect to houses on farms, there shall, so far as practicable, be a system of variable payments so that in any year when there is below normal production or prices there may be an appropriate decrease that year in payment below the minimum otherwise required, but only to the extent that credits have been established as defined by the annual contributions contract through previous payments by the farm owner in excess of the minimum required payments. (vi) Provisions of nonfarm housing for families of low income in rural areas, with sufficient land for home gardens, shall be subject to the condition that the housing authority shall first determine that such housing will be so located that sources of employment will be accessible to the occupants thereof.
The department, with the approval of the municipal officers shall have all the powers of a housing authority under this section in order to provide housing for families of low income in any city or town where no housing authority exists. Upon the organization of a housing authority in such a city or town, all the rights, titles, powers, duties and obligations of a housing authority acquired or exercised by the department with respect to such housing shall immediately vest in such housing authority.
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