§ 219-b. Definitions. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other article of this chapter the following terms, whenever used or referred to in this article, shall have the following meanings, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:

1. The term "emergency project" means a specific work or improvement, including lands, buildings and improvements, acquired, constructed, altered, renovated, or reused to provide emergency dwelling accommodations for eligible tenants, as hereafter defined in this section, together with such social, recreational, communal or other non-housing facilities as may be deemed by the authority or city or government undertaking such project to be incidental or appurtenant thereto. Emergency projects as defined herein shall be deemed to constitute low rent housing within the meaning of article eighteen of the constitution and shall be deemed to be in conformity with a plan or undertaking for the clearance, replanning and reconstruction or rehabilitation of a substandard and insanitary area and for recreational and other facilities incidental or appurtenant thereto.

2. The term "eligible tenant" means: (a) distressed families of servicemen; (b) distressed veterans and their families; (c) distressed single servicemen and veterans; and (d) other distressed persons or families of low income. The term "servicemen" shall include any person who is serving, and the term "veterans" shall include any person who has served during world war II, under conditions other than dishonorable, in the military or naval forces or the merchant marine of the United States. Persons and families who are without adequate housing because of eviction or inadequate income or for other reasons, or are affected by unusual hardships, and are unable to find adequate housing within their financial reach shall be deemed to be distressed. Eligible tenants as defined herein shall be deemed to be persons of low income within the meaning of article eighteen of the constitution. Subject to the terms of any contract with a government, an authority shall have the power to select eligible tenants for emergency projects.