Housing Choice, formerly known as Section 8, is a federally funded program focused on low-income renters who need assistance, and is administered by the DC Housing Authority (DCHA). The waiting list is thousands of names long, and has been closed since 2013. Moving up the list can be a years-long process. The federal government hasn’t changed DC’s allotment in years, and local municipalities can provide additional funding, but Street Sense in DCist reported in 2022 that the District allocated only enough money to take an additional 310 people off the waitlist in the 2022 fiscal year, and 20 in FY2023. One man in the article waited 15 years for his name to rise to the top, during which time he experienced several bouts of homelessness and ended up in housing under a Housing First program.

Housing First is an approach to moving people from homelessness into permanent housing, recommended by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, and used by the DC Department of Human Services (DHS) in the administration of its own housing voucher programs, which include permanent supportive housing (PSH) for the chronically homeless, including intensive services, and targeted assisted vouchers (TAH) for individuals or households who need fewer services. We explain more here.

The DHS programs have seen rapid growth. DHS, in its frequently updated “A Path to Ending Homelessness” report, said it added more than 5,000 new PSH and TAH vouchers in the 2022 and 2023 fiscal years, more than doubling participation in programs that issued their first vouchers in 2017. Additionally, the DC Department of Behavioral Health Services and programs targeting veterans and returning citizens issue their own housing vouchers. The growth in the DSH programs corresponds with significant upswing in voucher renters in at least six neighborhood rent-stabilized buildings, first reported in 2019.

DCHA sets all voucher payment rates, including those under Housing Choice and Housing First, by determining “rent reasonableness.” HUD blasted DCHA in an October 2022 report for paying landlords rents well in excess of what it considers fair market rates. And The Washington Post and DCist reported at length in February and March on DCHA policies that allowed property owners to “command double or triple what they would otherwise collect” from unsubsidized residents of rent-stabilized buildings, creating incentives to turn the properties into de facto public housing.

In March, Council member Frumin introduced legislation seeking to address the overpayments in rent-stabilized buildings by requiring that DCHA “remove the exemption of housing vouchers from rent stabilization laws.”

Anonymous wrote:So here’s an idea on how to course correct on DC’s voucher program: let’s give MPD cops and firefighters and junior level federal agents the opportunity to live in a voucher rental on Connecticut Avenue if they want to. Not only would it provide workforce housing to deserving public servants, it could help to get more voucher residents to walk the straight and narrow instead of committing crime and mayhem.

Anonymous wrote:So here’s an idea on how to course correct on DC’s voucher program: let’s give MPD cops and firefighters and junior level federal agents the opportunity to live in a voucher rental on Connecticut Avenue if they want to. Not only would it provide workforce housing to deserving public servants, it could help to get more voucher residents to walk the straight and narrow instead of committing crime and mayhem.

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Anonymous wrote:Update re: Days Inn shooter, the one who KILLED a woman and injured 4 others, even for DC this is UNBELIEVABLE!

I have no words.

Prior to being appointed as a judge, she was a public defender for 14 years.

Her 15 year term is almost up, anyone know of ways to keep her from remaining on the bench?

She is well known amongst those that practice criminal law in DC for being the most defense friendly judge on the bench. She has never remotely attempted to move away from being a public defender. Learning she was the judge that allowed this person to remain on the streets was not shocking in the least.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Update re: Days Inn shooter, the one who KILLED a woman and injured 4 others, even for DC this is UNBELIEVABLE!

I have no words.

Prior to being appointed as a judge, she was a public defender for 14 years.

Her 15 year term is almost up, anyone know of ways to keep her from remaining on the bench?

Anonymous wrote:Judges and USAO are federally appointed. If they see their jobs as a social justice opportunity and do not value public safety, no change in mayor or # of cops will make any difference.

NoVA and MoCo are safer but are adopting many of the same policies, including restorative justice.

Anonymous wrote:Several MPD cars in front of The Saratoga, next to The Brandywine and site of recent Sat afternoon shooting.

Earlier, saw flyers on light poles about apartments at The Chesapeake having doors jimmied and burglaries w/o locks being broken.

Those buildings used to be full of retirees and Murch families. It still is shocking how quickly Forest Hills has changed. I feel sorry for the elderly in rent controlled apartments who may feel stuck/trapped.

Anonymous wrote:The tax base in ward 3 is going to up and move if this doesn’t change fast.