Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 50 Part 1.djvu/913

 888 September 1 1937 [S. 16851 [Public, No. 412[ United States Hous- ing Act of 1937. Declaration of pol- icy . Definitions. "Low-renthous- ing ." "Families of low income ." "Slum ." "Slum clearance." "Development ." " Adm inis tra tion ." 75r n CONGRESS, 1ST SESSION-CH. 896-SEPTEMBER 1, 19 37 [CHAPTER 89 6] AN ACT To pr ovide f inancia l assis tance t o the S tates and pol itical subdivi sions t hereof for the elimination of unsafe and insanitary housing conditions, for the eradica- tion of slums, for the provision of decent, safe, and sanitary dwellings for fami lies of low i ncome, and for the re duction of une mployme nt and the st imula- tion of business activity, to create a United States Housing Authority, and for other purpos es. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States o f America in Congress assembled, DECLARATION OF POLICY SECTION 1 . It is hereby declared to be the policy of the United States to promote the general welfare of the Nation by employing its funds and credit, as provided in this Act, to assist the several States and their political subdivisions to alleviate present and recurring unemployment and to remedy the unsafe and insanitary housing conditions and the acute shortage of decent, safe, and sanitary dwell- ings for families o f low inco me, in rura l or urban communiti es, that are injurious to the health, safety, and morals of the citizens of the Na tio n. DEFINITIONS SEC. 2 . When used in this Act- (1) The term "low-rent housing" means decent, safe, and sanitary dwellings within the financial reach of families of low income, and developed and administered to promote serviceability, efficiency, econ- omy, and stability, and embraces all necessary appurtenances thereto. The dwellings in low-rent housing as defined in this Act shall be available solely fo r families whose net income at the time o f admis- sion does not exceed five 1 times the rental (including the value or cost to them of heat, light, water, and cooking fuel) of the dwell- ings to be furnished such families, except that in the case of families with three or more minor dependents, such ratio shall not exceed six to one. (2) The term "families of low income" means families who are in the lowest income group and who cannot afford to pay enough to cause private enterprise in their locality or metropolitan area to build an adequate s upply of d ecent, safe, and sani tary dwell ings for their use. (3) The term "slum" means any area where dwellings predomi- nate which, by reason of dilapidation overcrowding, faulty arrange- ment or design, lack of ventilation, fight or sanitation facilities, or any combi nation of these fact ors, are de trimental to safety, health, or morals. (4 ) The t erm "s lum cle arance" means the dem olition and re moval of bui ldings from an y slum area. (5) The term "development" means any or all undertakings necess ary for planni ng, fin ancing (includ ing pay ment of carry ing charges), land acquisition, demolition, construction, or equipment, in connection with a low-rent-housing or slum-clearance project, but not beyond the point of physical completion. Construction activity in connection with a low-rent-housing project may be confined to the reconstruction, remodeling, or repair of existing buildings. ( 6) The term "adm inist ratio n" mea ns an y or all u nderta kings necessary for management, operation, maintenance, or financing, in connectio n with a l ow-rent-ho using or sl um-clearan ce project, subse- quent to physical completion. I So in original.