As used in sections 23-11-31 to 23-11-36:

1.    “Administration” means any and all undertakings necessary for management, operation, or maintenance, in connection with any project, and includes the leasing of any project, in whole or in part, from the federal government.

2. “Development” means any and all undertakings necessary for the planning, land acquisition, demolition, financing, construction, or equipment in connection with a project, including the negotiation or award of contracts therefor, and includes the acquisition of any project, in whole or in part, from the federal government.

3. “Federal government” means the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality, corporate or otherwise, of the United States of America.

    4.    “Housing authority” means any housing authority established or hereafter established pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

5.    “Persons engaged in national defense activities” includes enlisted men in the military and naval services of the United States, employees of the war and navy departments assigned to duty at military or naval reservations, posts, or bases, and workers engaged or to be engaged in industries connected with and essential to the national defense program, and includes the families of the aforesaid persons who are living with them.

6.    “Persons of low income” means persons or families who lack the amount of income which is necessary, as determined by the housing authority undertaking the housing project, to enable them, without financial assistance, to live in decent, safe, and sanitary dwellings, without overcrowding.

7.    “Veteran” means a person, as defined by section 37-01-40, who may be eligible under the terms of sections 23-11-31 through 23-11-34 for aid or assistance.

The development of a project must be deemed to be initiated if a housing authority has issued any bonds, notes, or other obligations with respect to financing the development of such project of the authority, or has contracted with the federal government with respect to the exercise of powers hereunder in the development of such project of the federal government for which an allocation of funds has been made during the existence of this chapter.