Housing
Where I Stand
We are living in a time of prosperity for the District, but far too many of our residents struggle with housing, homelessness, and displacement. Unless we preserve and build new affordable housing, the District’s growth will come at the expense of pushing out low-income families and people of color, particularly the communities that have made Ward 1 so vibrant and resilient. I’m fighting to create new affordable housing and preserve the affordable and family-sized housing we already have with a focus on our lowest income, most vulnerable families.
I believe in a “Yes, and” approach to housing. Creating market rate housing and the Inclusionary Zoning units that come with it are an important piece of the puzzle, but it is an incomplete solution. I’ve voted to fully fund the Housing Production Trust Fund, and I support Community Land Trusts, strengthened rent control, limited-equity cooperatives, and unique tools like the Tenant and District Opportunity to Purchase Act. All are essential components of our housing vision.
Examples of Ward 1 Affordable Housing Projects
Maycroft | 1474 Columbia Rd. NW
- 64 low-income units (41 at 30% Area Median Income or below, 15 for formerly homeless families) developed by non-profit developer Jubilee Housing.
- Ground floor support services to include a Family Resource Center, Child Development Center, and Teen Renaissance Center, with more than 30 full-time staff.
Portner Flats | 1440 V St. NW
- 96 affordable units at 60% AMI or below, 48 of which are replacement units for Portner Place, a former Section-8 complex that was purchased under the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA).
- Established a supportive services program for residents with $100k of seed funds.
The Wren | 965 Florida Ave
- 126 affordable units (32 at 30% AMI and 94 at 50% AMI).
- Creates 200-300 permanent jobs at the new Whole Foods.
- Instead of spending tax dollars to build affordable housing, the city required the developer to build the affordable units using a Planned Unit Development (PUD) in exchange for a reduced price on the land.
Park Morton New Communities Initiative
- 462 total units split between multiple sites.
- 147 Public Housing and Senior Housing Replacement Units
- 155 Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Units up to 60% AMI
- 160 Market Rate Units
- 1:1 Replacement of current subsidized housing at Park Morton.
- Ensured Right of Return for Park Morton Residents.
- 82 units of Replacement Housing completed at The Avenue Apartments.
- Enhanced facilities at the future Bruce Monroe Park.
What I've Done
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Introduced the Public Housing Preservation and Tenant Protection Amendment Act, which would protect public housing tenants from displacement in event of renovation of a Housing Authority property.
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Co-introduced the Rental Housing Source of Income Amendment Act, which would prevent discrimination against housing voucher holders in accessing rental units.
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Introduced the On-Site Services Act of 2019, which provides services like healthcare, legal services, food and nutrition, childcare, after-school care to multifamily buildings occupied by tenants that receive housing assistance.
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Introduced a bill that would move the DC Housing Authority from an independent agency to one under Mayoral and Council control, in order to prioritize the needs of public housing residents.
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Supported the passage and funding of the Rental Assistance for Unassisted Seniors Amendment Act of 2018, which provides a rental subsidy to low-income seniors who are rent burdened up to $600 a month to help them stay in their homes.
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Introduced the Land Disposition for Affordable Housing Amendment Act of 2019, which establishes the same affordable housing requirements on land owned by quasi-governmental entities (like WMATA and DC Water) as those that exist for District-owned land.
- Opposed a bill that would erode the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act – one of the only Councilmembers to do so.
- Introduced the Mixed-Use Affordable Housing Property Tax Exemption Act, which ensures that buildings which would otherwise be eligible for tax relief for providing affordable housing are not prevented from receiving such tax relief simply because a portion of the building is used for a community purpose such as a dental office or medical clinic.
- Co-introduced the Affordable Cooperative Task Force Act, which would establish a task force to provide policy recommendations to improve affordable limited-equity cooperatives and assist in the formation of new cooperatives.
- Co-introduced the Home Purchase Assistance Program Amendment Act, which increases the maximum amount of down payment assistance for the lowest income homebuyers.
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Co-introduced the Home Purchase Assistance Program Amendment Act, which increases the maximum amount of down payment assistance for the lowest income homebuyers.
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Voted for a tax reduction for first-time homebuyers to lower the one-time recordation tax on new home purchases in the District for the next five years. First-time homebuyers who earn 180% of the area median income (approximately $195,000) or below, are eligible.