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DHCD Housecalls Has Moved!

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Uganda Officials Visit Washington, DC to Discuss Housing and Community Development

On June 18th, Director Kelly hosted a delegation of Ugandan housing professionals at DHCD this week.  The delegation, from the Kampala Capital City, was seeking to understand the policy and process decisions that are made in supporting affordable housing in the District.  The discussion centered around financing and development best practices that could be applied in Uganda, as leadership on both sides strives to meet the needs of a growing population.

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In essence, their voices lead me to learn more about the history and culture of Anacostia. The Anacostia River was an inspiration for the sculpture not only because of its natural beauty, but the fact that historically it has witnessed the transition of the community and continues to inspire future generations. In the process I looked at architecture and traditional art forms from African American and American Indian culture. - See more at: http://www.capitalcommunitynews.com/content/art-installation-enlivens-good-hope-mlk#sthash.3XyDoU7q.dpuf

-Wilfredo Valladares, sculptor "Journey to Anacostia"

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Director Kelly at the "Homes for Vets" reception sponsored by Habitat for Humanity of Washington DC on June 2nd.

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DHCD's $3 Million Grant to Target Southeast DC Residents

An excerpt from HUD's Sustainability newsletter , June 2013:

"The CHASE area is located within Ward 8, one of the city’s poorest wards. According to 2011 estimates from the American Community Survey, the median household income in the area was $30,705, under half of that for all of the District of Columbia ($61,835). Almost 37 percent of people in the area were below the poverty level, compared to 18 percent of people in D.C. The unemployment rate in the area was almost double that in D.C., at 12.4 percent and 6.7 percent respectively. Ward 8 had a lower estimated homeownership rate (about 23 percent) than in all of D.C. (around 43 percent). Approximately 59 percent of renter households in the area were estimated to pay more than 30 percent of their income for housing, while about 49 percent of renter households in D.C. were housing-cost burdened.

Although it faces considerable adversity, the area has a number of assets, including the numerous cultural attractions found in the historic community and access to transportation. Interstate 295 runs through the northwestern portion of the CHASE area, and 24 bus routes converge on the Anacostia Metro station, offering efficient and affordable transportation to nearby Capitol Hill and employment opportunities throughout the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

"A number of recent and upcoming investments will improve the area’s prospects. Recent public investments include Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP2) funding, which was awarded in 2010 for the revitalization of Anacostia and Fairlawn, among other neighborhoods. Because of overlapping goals and target areas, Community Challenge Planning Grant funds will supplement NSP2 funding and Community Development Block Grant program funds earmarked for the area. Additional major public investments include the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s consolidated headquarters, which is planned for the federally owned portion of the St. Elizabeths campus west of the CHASE area, and the District of Columbia Office of Planning’s effort to transform the old 11th Street Bridge in the northern part of the target area into a park. The city’s Department of Transportation (DDOT) is also planning a streetcar line from Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (west of the target area) to the Anacostia Metro station and is considering extending the line from the Anacostia Metro to the Historic Anacostia neighborhood.

Private investment and public-private partnerships are also fueling the CHASE area’s revitalization. Notable public-private partnerships include the LUMEN8 Festival (an annual event featuring arts and cultural activities to draw visitors to Historic Anacostia’s commercial corridor) and the mixed-income, mixed-use redevelopment of the Barry Farm community. Other investments include the Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus (THEARC), which houses 11 nonprofit organization, and a 365-seat community auditorium; the H Street Playhouse, which will soon relocate to Anacostia as the Anacostia Playhouse; and the HIVE, a business incubator that recently opened a second location in Anacostia. Additionally, small-scale private investment has rehabilitated numerous homes and storefronts throughout the target area. The Community Challenge Planning Grant provides DHCD the opportunity to coordinate and build upon these investments."

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Thank you to the Mayor's Office of Volunteerism for your outreach efforts for the Financial Reality Student Fair at this year's expo!  

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The first winner of our 1854 L Street home. Congratulations!

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The first winner of our 234 V Street home joined by Mayor Vincent Gray, Director Kelly, Delegate Holmes-Norton.

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5th Annual Housing Expo at the Washington Convention Center

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Looking for the schedule of events and session info?

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"What is Fair Housing?" produced in collaboration with DC Office of Human Rights. 

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A Partner Organization's Work with Local Residents to Enhance Their Community

Here is an excerpt of a success story submitted by one of DHCD's partner organizations, Housing Counseling Services:

The Spirit of W. Street Cooperative has been a community presence in the U Street corridor since 1989.  Located in an area that has seen massive gentrification and substantial construction in recent years, the cooperative still continues to bring affordable housing to all of its residents.  While many of the occupants have come and gone, there are several members of the cooperative who have been in the building since its inception.   One of those is the current Spirit of W Street board president, Lawrence Reid.   

He and the current board, as well as the entire building, have been integral recently in bringing the Spirit of W. Street up to higher standards of both security and appearance.   Housing Counseling Services has been working closely with the cooperative in these efforts.  With the assistance of a local non-for-profit organization, the hallways and the entranceway of the building were repainted.  There has also been a positive and palpable difference in the attitudes of the residents in the appearance of their home, and they have been working as a group to ensure that there is a continued effort to better the conditions in and around the building. Additionally, the cooperative has been working with the Metropolitan Police Department and their new management company to make efforts to improve security measures. 

Many of these measures are important not only for the confidence, safety, and aesthetic pleasure of the residents, but also improvements necessary in keeping with the rising condos and apartments that surround the Spirit of W. Street.   The many recent improvements demonstrate that the cooperative will continue to be a community staple.  

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Join Director Kelly and DHCD's community partners at the 5th Annual Housing Expo on June 1st.  Learn more about the two homes that will be a part of the lottery!

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Director Kelly, DHCD, Hosts Liberian Delegation

On May 1-3, DHCD was a proud host of an housing delegation from Liberia.  The visit was a part of a larger tour of agencies in the US conducting affordable housing activities.  The country which suffered fifteen years of civil war, now boasts the nation's first female president, Her Excellency, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.  This opportunity to share best practices may be another step forward in rebuilding for the east African nation.  

The delegation will also visit with officials from the Federal Housing Finance Agency, US Agency for International Development, The World Bank, and the International Finance Corporation.  

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Beginning May 9th!

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More on the Income Requirements for the Housing Lottery

In order to align with the mission of DHCD, income limits are required in order to be eligible for these homes.  These requirements are not necessarily the same of those of the HPAP program. 

Applicants are asked to have submitted lottery application by April 30th.