New York Consolidated Laws, Public Housing Law - PBG § 219-a. Policy of state and purpose of article

It is hereby declared that there exists within the state, and particularly within certain cities thereof, an acute shortage of housing;  that low income inhabitants of the state, and particularly demobilized servicemen of world war II and their families, as well as the families of servicemen still serving within the military and naval forces of the United States, are unable to obtain adequate, safe and sanitary dwelling accommodations within their financial reach;  that this condition is a menace to the health, safety, morals, welfare and reasonable comfort of the citizens of the state;  that this condition has reached the stage of an acute emergency which cannot be adequately and immediately alleviated by the normal processes of construction of permanent housing and the construction of permanent public housing projects in connection with slum clearance, and that immediate mitigation is required by such emergency means as are available;  that this condition requires that provision be made for public emergency housing as hereinafter provided;  that this condition requires that certain cities and authorities be authorized to cooperate and enter into agreements with a government and with each other to the end that emergency housing may be obtained as expeditiously as possible;  that this condition requires the temporary suspension of various normal restrictions, prohibitions, limitations and procedures to the end that emergency housing may be supplied with the least possible delay;  that the acquisition, construction, management, operation, and disposition of such emergency housing and the real and personal property and other facilities necessary, incidental or appurtenant thereto is a public use for which public money may be spent, private property acquired, and tax exemption granted;  and that the necessity in the public interest for the provisions hereinafter enacted is hereby declared as a matter of legislative determination.