---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 1503"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "1503"
heading: "Development of projects by Secretary; financial assistance to public housing agencies"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/1503"
units:
  - "Chapter 9 — Housing of Persons Engaged in National Defense"
  - "Subchapter I — Projects Generally"
---

# §1503. Development of projects by Secretary; financial assistance to public housing agencies


In any localities where the President determines that there is an acute shortage of housing which impedes the national defense program and that the necessary housing would not otherwise be provided when needed for persons engaged in national defense activities, the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of Housing and Urban Development may undertake the development and administration of [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) to assure the availability of dwellings in such localities for such persons and their families, or the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of Housing and Urban Development may extend financial assistance of public housing [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) for the development and administration of such [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2). Such financial assistance to public housing [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) shall be extended (except as otherwise provided herein and not inconsistent herewith) under the provisions of, and in the same manner and forms as provided in, title I[^1] of the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended [[42 U.S.C. 1437](/usc/42/1437.md) et seq.], with respect to other housing [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2).


## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Reference should probably be to entire “United States Housing Act of 1937” because such Act is not divided into titles. See section 1437 et seq. of this title.

## Source credit

(June 28, 1940, ch. 440, title II, § 203, 54 Stat. 683; 1947 Reorg. Plan No. 3, § 4(a), eff. July 27, 1947, 12 F.R. 4981, 61 Stat. 955; Pub. L. 89–174, § 5(a), Sept. 9, 1965, 79 Stat. 669.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The United States Housing Act of 1937, referred to in text, is act Sept. 1, 1937, ch. 896, as revised generally by Pub. L. 93–383, title II, § 201(a), Aug. 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 653, which is classified generally to chapter 8 (§ 1437 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1437 of this title and Tables.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Transfer of Functions

For transfer of functions to Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, see note set out under section 1501 of this title.