N.Y. Public Housing Law § 219-b: Definitions

§ 219-b. Definitions. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other

article of this chapter the following terms, whenever used or referred

to in this article, shall have the following meanings, unless a

different meaning clearly appears from the context:

1. The term "emergency project" means a specific work or improvement,

including lands, buildings and improvements, acquired, constructed,

altered, renovated, or reused to provide emergency dwelling

accommodations for eligible tenants, as hereafter defined in this

section, together with such social, recreational, communal or other

non-housing facilities as may be deemed by the authority or city or

government undertaking such project to be incidental or appurtenant

thereto. Emergency projects as defined herein shall be deemed to

constitute low rent housing within the meaning of article eighteen of

the constitution and shall be deemed to be in conformity with a plan or

undertaking for the clearance, replanning and reconstruction or

rehabilitation of a substandard and insanitary area and for recreational

and other facilities incidental or appurtenant thereto.

2. The term "eligible tenant" means: (a) distressed families of

servicemen; (b) distressed veterans and their families; (c) distressed

single servicemen and veterans; and (d) other distressed persons or

families of low income. The term "servicemen" shall include any person

who is serving, and the term "veterans" shall include any person who has

served during world war II, under conditions other than dishonorable, in

the military or naval forces or the merchant marine of the United

States. Persons and families who are without adequate housing because of

eviction or inadequate income or for other reasons, or are affected by

unusual hardships, and are unable to find adequate housing within their

financial reach shall be deemed to be distressed. Eligible tenants as

defined herein shall be deemed to be persons of low income within the

meaning of article eighteen of the constitution. Subject to the terms of

any contract with a government, an authority shall have the power to

select eligible tenants for emergency projects.