Complaints to DHCD

Residents and businesses can file Section 3 complaints. Any:

• Section 3 resident can file a complaint related to employment, training, or other opportunities for themselves or for another Section 3 resident(s)
• Other individuals can file a complaint related to the above on behalf of a Section 3 resident(s)
• Section 3 business can file a complaint related to contracts or subcontracts covered by Section 3 protections  

DHCD must receive a complaint within 180 days of the violation. They must:

1. Be in writing
2. Include –
   • The name and address of the person making the compliant
   • The respondent’s name and address
   • A clear description of the alleged violation, including what it was and the date(s) it happened
3. Be signed by the person making the complaint
4. Be filed by mail, email, or telephone to:

Section 3 Compliance Specialist
DC Department of Housing & Community Development
1909 Martin Luther King Jr, Avenue
Washington, DC 20020
(202) 442-7200 or contact TTY
[email protected]

You also can file a complaint with HUD at:

Assistant Secretary Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
US Housing and Urban Development
451 7th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20410
File A Complaint (online) or email: [email protected]

Complaints to other agencies

You also may have other options for filing a complaint. Several federal agencies handle complaints related to Section 3 or employment violation.  

• If someone doesn’t comply with Section 3 requirements, you can file a complaint with the HUD office responsible for the project if you know it. You also can contact the HUD field office for more information:

Washington, DC Field Office
US Department of Housing and Urban Development
820 First Street NE, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20002-4205

• If your complaint is about labor issues, you can contact the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). It enforces federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of their race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information (medical history or predisposition to disease). For more information about your rights, contact the EEOC.

• The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) enforces laws for those who have contracts with the federal government. They must provide equal opportunity for job seekers and employees. Go to OFCC for more information.