Last week, tenants told us the real story on housing in DC and what our elected leaders need to do.
Last week, residents shared their housing stories with the DC Council at hearings on three crucial DC agencies – the Department of Human Services, the Department of Housing and Community Development, and the DC Housing Authority. Residents talked about their struggles with unaffordable rents that continue to rise, the alarm over rising evictions, landlords who raise rents while ignoring requests for repairs and maintenance, a Housing Authority that moves too slowly on everything – and the sense that DC’s leaders don’t seem to care about renters.
The signing organizations believe that the DC Council must center tenant voices – especially this week – when they say that DC must stem the tide of displacement. That means doing more to enforce safe and healthy living conditions in all residential units and buildings. That means fewer evictions, not cutting emergency rental aid and making it harder to access.That means preservation funding that keeps tenants in affordable and decent homes. That means a Tenant Opportunity to Purchase process that works to create stability and preserve affordability. That means holding housing providers accountable when they keep tenants in unsafe and unhealthy housing. That means a Housing Authority that protects its residents, working assertively to approve vouchers, make repairs and create safe living environments.
In support of these values, our organizations have been individually and collectively taking action: showing up alongside tenants at hearings, preparing them to testify ahead of hearings, speaking to council members and staff in the Wilson Building, and running events to support their organizing efforts.
Signed:
DC Jobs with Justice
DC Fiscal Policy Institute
Empower DC
Equal Rights Center
Fair Budget Coalition
Green New Deal for DC
Jews United for Justice
Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America
National Coalition for the Homeless
United Planning Organization
