Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (“DMPED”) launched new Housing Stabilization Grants with $10 million from the federal CARES Act to provide COVID-19 related relief to District housing providers, with $1 million set aside specifically for small housing providers.
The program will be available to two groups:
Group A, to be administered by the DC Housing Finance Agency (“DCHFA”), will include housing providers in the city’s portfolio of affordable housing projects (including those affordable housing owners with 20 or fewer units), financed by the Housing Production Trust Fund, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, or other local and federal affordable housing funds.
Group B, to be administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development (“DHCD”), will include small housing providers with 20 units or fewer in the District of Columbia.
Rent arrears from April 1, 2020, through November 30, 2020, will be paid by the city to housing providers in an 80:20 split with the District contributing 80% of the rent, up to $2,000 per unit per month, and the housing provider forgiving the rest. Applications will open on December 1 and close on December 11.
Group A | Group B | |
---|---|---|
Administration | DCHFA | DHCD |
Eligibility | Units in city portfolio of affordable housing projects (i.e., projects financed by HPTF, LIHTC, HOME, CDBG, or other funds) | Units owned by landlords with ownership interests in 20 units or fewer in the District of Columbia (not in the city’s portfolio of affordable housing projects) |
Unit Rent Limits | $2,500 a month or less | No limit |
Arrears Assistance | 80% of rent, up to $2,000 a month | Same |
Housing Provider Contribution | Housing provider forgiveness of all rent arrears dating back to April 1 | Same |
Restrictions | Can't be receiving other forms of rental assistance for units seeking back rent, only for units occupied on April 1, 2020 and continuously until November 30 by the same tenant. | Same |
Documentation |
|
Same |
Group A housing providers (with units in city portfolio of affordable housing projects, including those affordable housing owners with 20 or fewer units) may submit applications here. If you have questions about your application, you can contact the DC Housing Finance Agency by emailing [email protected] or calling 1-833-201-9989.
Group B housing providers (with ownership interests in 20 or fewer units not in the city’s portfolio of affordable housing projects) applications have closed. If you have questions about your application, you can contact the Department of Housing and Community Development by emailing [email protected].
Beginning in January, housing providers may apply on behalf of eligible tenants to the District’s Coronavirus Housing Assistance Program (CHAP). To learn more about CHAP, please visit coronavirus.dc.gov/rent.