The number of units leased by any housing authority in any one building or development shall not exceed the following limits: In a building or development containing one to twelve units, no limit, in a building or development containing thirteen to thirty units, twelve units or fifty percent of the units, whichever is higher, in a building or development containing thirty-one or more units, forty percent of the total units, rounded up to the next highest whole number; provided, however, that the department may, in its discretion, permit a housing authority to lease additional units in a building or development containing more than twenty but less than one hundred units if the department determines that the owner of said buildings or development needs and will use the proceeds from said lease for the sole purpose of improving said building or development; and, provided further, that there shall be no limits in any building or development containing less than one hundred units where the department determines that such units are necessary to provide affordable housing for persons and families of low income; and, provided further, that there shall be no limits in any building where the department determines that all such units are for single room occupancy.
The department of community affairs is hereby authorized and directed to allocate funds appropriated for the state rental assistance program to eligible units within developments financed by the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency, hereinafter known as MHFA, pursuant to the provisions of sections twenty-five to twenty-seven, inclusive, of chapter twenty-three B.