Massachusetts General Laws
Chapter 121b - Housing and Urban Renewal
Section 27 - Rural Housing Authority; Additional Powers

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

Massachusetts General Laws

Part I - Administration of the Government

Title XVII - Public Welfare

Chapter 121b - Housing and Urban Renewal

Section 1 - Definitions

Section 2 - Severability

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 5b - Comprehensive Training Program for Members of a Housing or Redevelopment Authority; Technical Assistance Training for Tenant Members

Section 6 - Housing and Redevelopment Authorities; Charges Against Members; Hearing; Removal; Resignation; Suspension

Section 7 - Officers and Executive Director of Housing and Redevelopment Authorities; Compensation of Members

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 13 - Operating Agencies; Contract and Tort Liability; Member's Personal Liability; Relocation of Utility Facilities

Section 14 - Operating Agencies; Federal Loans; Conveyance Upon Default

Section 15 - Operating Agencies; Bonds, Notes, Certificates; Negotiable Instruments

Section 16 - Exemption From Taxation for Real Estate and Tangible Personal Property of Operating Agency; Revaluation or Reassessment of Real Property; Payments in Lieu of Taxes

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 19 - Initial Costs and Annual Operating Expenses of Operating Agencies; Appropriations and Payment by City

Section 20 - Development, Acquisition and Operating Costs; Relocation Payments; Losses; Appropriation and Payment by City

Section 21 - Indebtedness Limitation

Section 23 - Municipal Powers

Section 24 - Agreement to Bear Acquisition Loss

Section 25 - Housing Programs; Statement of Emergency

Section 26 - Powers of a Housing Authority

Section 26a - Powers of Department in City Without Housing Authority; Financing of Projects; Bonds and Notes; Issuance and Sale; Approval of City or Town

Section 26b - Performance-Based Monitoring Program; Assessment Standards

Section 26c - Best Practices Program for Allowing Authorities to Work Collaboratively; Provisions of Program; Capital Assistance Team; Director; Members

Section 26d - Names and Contact Information of All Members and Senior Staff to Be Posted on Wall of Community Center and on Website

Section 27 - Rural Housing Authority; Additional Powers

Section 28 - Application of Laws, Ordinances, and Regulations of Cities or Towns Relating to Buildings, Planning, Zoning and Public Health

Section 28a - Annual Plan; Availability to Public for Review and Comment

Section 29 - Accounts and Reports of Housing Authorities; Review of Financial Records; Availability to Public; Audit; Investigations by Department; Rules and Regulations of Department

Section 30 - Contract With Federal Government; Acquiring Federally Owned Project

Section 31 - Submission of Plans for Low-Rent Housing Project to Department; Application; Hearing; Disposition

Section 32 - Maintenance and Operation of Project; Rentals; Tenant Selection; Eligibility for Continued Occupancy; Hearings; Waiver

Section 32a - Parking Areas; Rules and Regulations; Towing

Section 32b - Definitions

Section 32c - Unlawful Conduct by Tenant, Members or Non-Members of Tenant Household; Civil Action by Landlord for Injunctive or Other Equitable Relief

Section 32d - Actions by Tenants or Tenants' Organizations

Section 32e - Jurisdiction Over Civil Actions; Appellate Review

Section 32f - Restraining Orders and Injunctions; Form; Service; Enforcement; Violations; Effect; Modification and Vacation

Section 32g - Temporary Absences From Commonwealth; Presumption of Abandonment of Residency and Eligibility for Assistance

Section 33 - Equivalent Elimination of Substandard Dwelling Units

Section 34 - State and Federal Financial Assistance; General Provisions

Section 34a - Contracts for State Financial Assistance on Leased Mhfa Projects to Provide Replacement or Relocation Housing; Annual Contributions; Limitations

Section 34b - Commonwealth Guaranteed Temporary Notes; Authorization and Execution; Sale and Refunding Limitations; Terms

Section 35 - Contracts for Supplementary State Financial Assistance

Section 36 - Receipt of Loans and Grants From Federal Sources or From Other Sources

Section 37 - Commonwealth Grants; Guarantee of Temporary Notes; Sale, Maintenance, and Operation of Relocation Projects; Limitations on Eminent Domain

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 38d - Regional Public Housing Innovation Program; Goals; Application for Participation in Program; Funds; Powers and Projects

Section 39 - Power to Provide Housing for Elderly and Handicapped Persons of Low Income; Priorities in Placement

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 43 - Contracts to Rent, Lease or Provide Financial Assistance to Housing Units by Housing Authorities

Section 43a - Rental Assistance Program; Relocation of Residents; Leased Housing Units

Section 44 - Rental Assistance Program; Rentals and Tenant Selection

Section 44a - Leasing of Housing Units in Mhfa Projects for Replacement or Relocation Housing Authorized

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 53 - Application for Urban Renewal Assistance Grant or Urban Revitalization and Development Grant

Section 54 - State Aid for Urban Renewal; Determination of Compliance and Final Approved Cost; Notice

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