If the council of each of two or more municipalities, whether or not contiguous, by resolution declares that there is a need for one housing authority to be created for all of such municipalities to exercise in such municipalities the powers and other functions prescribed for a housing authority, a public body corporate and politic to be known as a consolidated housing authority, with such corporate name as it selects, shall thereupon exist for all of such municipalities and exercise its powers and other functions within its area of operation, including the power to undertake projects therein. Thereupon each housing authority, if any, created for each of such municipalities shall cease to exist except for the purpose of winding up its affairs and executing a deed of its real property to the consolidated housing authority.