AGO Opinion Topics: HOUSING AUTHORITIES

A housing authority may perform such administrative services such as “Section 8” contract administration for housing agencies located in other states, if (1) such services are covered in an interlocal cooperation agreement meeting the requirements of RCW 39.34, (2) each party to the agreement has authority to perform the services in question; and (3) each party has authority to enter into the interlocal agreement.

A public housing authority established pursuant to chapter 35.82 RCW, although authorized to purchase time certificates of deposit issued by certain in-state financial institutions under chapter 39.68 RCW, has no legal authority to purchase such certificates of deposit when issued by out-of-state financial institutions.

Except under certain special circumstances whereby the normal relationship between a board of county commissioners and a county housing authority is modified, as further indicated herein, the sale of real property by a county commissioner to a county housing authority within the same county does not violate any statutory provision concerning conflicts of interest.

Discussion of the constitutionality of House Bill No.449, pending before the 1975 legislature, insofar as this bill would authorize a housing authority to provide housing to persons other than those of low income and to become involved in the financing of housing projects constructed by private builders.

A local housing authority may dispose of unimproved land which is in excess of current needs where such land was acquired to qualify the authority as transferee of temporary war housing from the federal government under the relinquishment provisions of the Lanham Act, as amended.  Proceeds of such sale may be used to improve and maintain the transferred dwellings.

State Housing Authorities have power to acquire the properties of Federal projects, but may operate them only for nonprofit low rental purposes.Disposition of such property, once acquired by housing authorities, is controlled by Federal statute.  (Section 1586, Title 42, U.S.C.A.)