Federal Public Housing Authority

Federal Public Housing Authority Creation.--The Federal Public Housing Authority, as one of the three main constituent units of the National Housing Agency, performs the functions, powers, and duties relating to public housing theretofore performed by the Federal Works Agency and its constituent units or agencies (United States Housing Authority, Public Buildings Administration, Division of Defense Housing, Mutual Ownership Defense Housing Division), the War Department and the Navy Department (except housing located on military or naval reservations, posts, or bases), and the Farm Security Administration (nonfarm housing). Under the order, also, the Defense Homes Corporation and its functions, powers, and duties are administered by the Federal Public Housing Commissioner. War Housing.--The Federal Public Housing Authority is authorized to provide hosing for persons engaged in war activities in localities in which the President finds that an acute shortage of housing exists or impends which would impede war activities, and that such housing would not be provided by private enterprise when needed. This includes housing for workers engaged in industries essential to the war effort, for certain military and naval personnel, and for certain employees of the Government whose duties are essential to the war effort. The Federal public Housing Authority is authorized to acquire land and to construct and operate projects to provide such war housing, including family housing, dormitories, and trailers. The Federal Public Housing Authority is authorized to utilize local public housing agencies in the construction and operation of such war housing projects. The Authority is also authorized to revise contracts for financial assistance which had been entered into with local public housing agencies in connection with low-rent housing and slum clearance projects located in areas where there is a shortage of housing for persons engaged in war activities, so that these projects can be used during the war to provide necessary public housing for war workers. Low-Rent Housing and Slum Clearance.--Pursuant to the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended, contracts for financial assistance --133-(in the form of capital loans and annual subsidies during administration) to aid local public housing agencies in the development and administration of low-rent housing and slum clearance projects were entered into by the United States Housing Authority. The Federal Public Housing Authority is now administering these contracts under Executive Order 9070 of

February 24, 1942. As already indicated, many projects originally intended for low-rent housing have been made available for persons engaged in war activities. Such United States Housing Act projects now used to house war workers will revert to low-rent housing purposes after the war. The Authority also administers nonfarm housing projects developed by the Farm Security Administration, including three "greenbelt" communities, and some 30 rural or suburban projects for families not deriving their principal income from operating or working on farms.