{"id":140,"date":"2019-02-14T15:47:52","date_gmt":"2019-02-14T15:47:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dcfeedback.com\/archives\/?p=140"},"modified":"2019-02-14T16:02:15","modified_gmt":"2019-02-14T16:02:15","slug":"d-c-affordable-housing-some-lawmakers-want-to-reshape-housing-agency-curbed-dc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.dcfeedback.com\/archives\/140\/","title":{"rendered":"D.C. affordable housing: Some lawmakers want to reshape housing agency – Curbed DC"},"content":{"rendered":"

dc.curbed.com\/2019\/2\/11\/18220777\/dc-affordable-housing-authority-council-local-control<\/a>
\nHoping for improvements, lawmakers consider restructuring D.C.\u2019s public housing authority Two proposals would give the District more control over the independent agency than it has now
\nAndrew Giambrone Feb 11, 2019, 6:03pm EST The D.C. Housing Authority headquarters, at 1133 North Capitol St. NE (2009) Cliff\/Wikimedia Creative Commons (CC BY 2.0) Many of the city\u2019s more than 8,000 public housing units have long been in serious disrepair, the consequence of decades of underinvestment and mismanagement at both the federal and local levels. But the situation appears to be reaching a critical point. As the Washington City Paper recently reported, the D.C. Housing Authority (DCHA) says conditions in 2,500 units it owns and manages are \u201cextremely urgent,\u201d seeing dated building systems, pests, and mold.
\nSome city lawmakers are now seeking to fix these conditions and prevent them in the future by reshaping how DCHA, which has been an independent agency for years, is governed. Two bills floated at a D.C. Council meeting last Tuesday would give the District more control over the housing authority\u2014in one case, by positioning it directly under the purview of the mayor.
\nPitched by Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne Nadeau, the first bill aims to boost transparency over DCHA\u2019s operations and budget. \u201cThe housing authority is not responsive enough to the needs of our residents and is making plans\u2014including privatization of our public housing\u2014that will set us back in the middle of a housing crisis,\u201d Nadeau said in introducing her bill. Last month, the DCHA board approved a strategic plan that empowers the agency\u2019s staff to examine possibly selling off some of its properties for redevelopment, City Paper reported.
\nCurbed DC Newsletter
\nBy signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and European users agree to the data transfer policy. Nadeau\u2019s bill drew preliminary support from a majority of the 13-member Council. She said it is \u201cimperative\u201d that DCHA \u201cseeks to preserve every unit of housing\u201d set aside for families making at or below 30 percent of the area median income\u2014currently about $35,000 a year for a four-person family\u2014\u201cwhile also looking for new ways to create them.\u201d Housing experts consider units priced at that level deeply affordable, and the bill still must receive a hearing.
\nThe second bill, proposed by At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds, would add two Council-approved members to DCHA\u2019s board and require that board members have \u201cexperience and competence\u201d in at least one of the following areas: \u201cpublic housing, subsidized or nonprofit housing, community-based redevelopment, philanthropy and social services, real estate finance and investment, or housing development and construction.\u201d If the bill becomes law, the size of the board would grow to 13 seats from 11 seats as of today. Bonds, who chairs the Council\u2019s housing committee, described the present requirements as \u201chighly open-ended.\u201d
\nHer bill also received initial support from a majority of councilmembers and still requires a public hearing to advance. In a statement on Monday, the housing authority did not express clear opposition to either piece of legislation, saying: \u201cDCHA has identified areas in need of improvement and is vigorously working toward a strategy that will improve the quality of life for our residents. We welcome the opportunity for an open discussion with all stakeholders.\u201d
\nThe current governance structure and independent status of DCHA date back to the 1990s.
\nThis post has been updated with comment from DCHA.
\nPeople live in terrible conditions in some of D.C.\u2019s affordable housing [Curbed DC] Nearly One-Third of the City\u2019s Public Housing Stock Is at Risk of Becoming Uninhabitable [Washington City Paper] New D.C. bill seeks to alleviate bedbug issues [Curbed DC] D.C. housing inspectors could check for mold in rental properties under new bill [Curbed DC] DC Housing Authority Board Opens Door to Privatizing Some Public Housing [Washington City Paper]
\n Mary Bolton 202-390-1208<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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