For purposes of this Part the following terms shall have the meaning hereinafter ascribed to them unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(1)  “Governing authority” means the city council or other legislative body charged with governing any incorporated municipality in the state or its duly authorized representative.

(2)  “Housing development area” means an area approved by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development under its Urban Development Action Grant Program or a successor program as a pocket of poverty or an area which by reason of the presence therein of slum, deteriorated, or deteriorating residential or nonresidential buildings, structures or improvements; by reason of the existence therein of significant unsanitary, unhealthy, or other hazardous conditions which endanger the public health, safety, morals, or welfare of the inhabitants thereof and of the city; or by reason of the existence of any combination of the herein stated causes, factors, or conditions, results in a condition in that area which substantially retards or arrests the provision of a sound and safe housing environment.

(3)  “Low and moderate-income families and individuals” means those families and individuals whose gross annual incomes does not exceed one hundred twenty percent of the metropolitan statistical area or parish median income as adjusted by family size based on data from the United States Census Bureau, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, or another acceptable and appropriate data source.

(4)  “Nonprofit corporation” means any organization organized on a not-for-profit basis under the provisions of Chapter II of Title 12 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.

(5)  “Person” means any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, association, or body politic and shall include any trustee, receiver, assignee, or other person acting in a similar representative capacity.

(6)  “Real property” means all lands, including improvements and fixtures thereon, property of any nature appurtenant thereto and used in connection therewith, and every estate, interest, right or use, legal or equitable, therein, including terms for years and liens by way of judgment, mortgage, or otherwise.

(7)  “Rehabilitation” means the provision of improvement to a substandard structure in order that it attains at a minimum United States Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Section 8 Housing Quality Standards or local codes after improvements are completed.

(8)  “Substandard structure” means an uninhabited structure which is not acceptable for occupancy due to its state of disrepair and deterioration.  The unit does not meet local codes or United States Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Section 8 Housing Quality Standards.

Acts 1984, No. 571, §1.