TITLE 31

COUNTIES AND COUNTY LAW

CHAPTER 42

COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITIES AND COOPERATION LAW

31-4203.  Definitions. The following terms, wherever used or referred to in this chapter, shall have the following respective meanings, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:

(a)  "Authority" or "housing authority" shall mean any of the public corporations created by section 31-4205, Idaho Code.

(b)  "Housing project" shall mean any work or undertaking:

(1)  To demolish, clear or remove buildings from any slum area; such work or undertaking may embrace the adoption of such area to public purposes, including parks or other recreational or community purposes; or

(2)  To provide decent, safe and sanitary urban or rural dwellings, apartments or other living accommodations for persons of low income; such work or undertaking may include buildings, land, equipment, facilities and other real or personal property for necessary, convenient or desirable appurtenances, roads, sewers, water service, parks, site preparation, gardening, administrative, community, health, recreational, welfare or other purposes; or

(3)  To accomplish a combination of the foregoing.

The term "housing project" also may be applied to the planning of the buildings and improvements, the acquisition of property, the demolition of existing structures, the construction, reconstruction, alteration and repair of the improvements and all other work in connection therewith; to buildings, and the land, equipment, facilities and other real or personal property, which do not contain dwelling units or other living accommodations for persons of low income when such buildings are utilized for administrative, community, health, recreational, welfare or other purposes by or for low-income persons or senior citizens, and redevelopment projects carried out by an authority at the request of local government when such projects include dwelling units which are sold or rented to persons of low income.

(c)  "Governing body" shall mean the council, board of commissioners, board of trustees or other body having charge of the fiscal affairs of the state public body.

(d)  "Federal government" shall include the United States of America, the United States department of housing and urban development, or any other agency or instrumentality, corporate or otherwise, of the United States of America.

(e)  "County" or "counties" shall include all counties in the state of Idaho as designated in chapter 1, title 31, Idaho Code.

(f)  "Clerk" shall mean the county clerk or the officer charged with the duties customarily imposed on such clerk.

(g)  "Area of operation" shall mean the entire county except within the corporate limits of cities in the county which have presently, or hereafter create, a housing authority under title 50, chapter 19, Idaho Code; provided however, that a county housing authority may continue to own and operate any housing project for which it has become financially obligated which is located in a city that subsequently creates a housing authority or is located in an area annexed by a city that has created or subsequently creates a housing authority.

(h)  "Slum" shall mean any area where dwellings predominate which, by reason of dilapidation, overcrowding, lack of ventilation, light or sanitary facilities or any combination of these factors, are detrimental to safety, health or morals.

(i)  "Person of low income" shall mean persons or families who lack the amount of income which is necessary, as determined by the authority undertaking the housing project, to enable them, without financial assistance, to live in decent, safe and sanitary dwellings without overcrowding.

(j)  "Bonds" shall mean any bonds, notes, interim certificates, debentures or other obligations issued by an authority pursuant to this chapter.

(k)  "Real property" shall include all lands, including improvements and fixtures thereon, and property of any nature, appurtenant thereto, or used in connection therewith, and every estate, interest and right, legal or equitable, therein, including terms for years and liens by way of judgment, mortgage or otherwise and the indebtedness secured by such liens.

(l)  "Obligee of the authority" or "obligee" shall include any bondholder, trustee or trustees for any bondholders, or lessors demising, to the authority, property used in connection with a housing project, or any assignee or assignees of such lessor’s interest or any part thereof, and the federal government when it is a party to any contract with the authority.

History:

[31-4203, added 1970, ch. 211, sec. 3, p. 584; am. 2001, ch. 260, sec. 1, p. 936.]