(WASHINGTON, DC) – Today, the Bowser Administration opened applications for the $12 million Housing Stabilization Grant program to provide support for the District’s portfolio of affordable housing properties and small housing providers. The grants cover rent arrears for eligible housing providers who have been unable to access funding for renters through other rental assistance efforts.

“Many of our housing providers have partnered with the District and with their residents to ensure that everyone can receive the assistance needed to stay in their homes” said Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development John Falcicchio. “These Housing Stabilization Grants will provide much needed funds to ensure affordable properties in our city and smaller landlords (many of whom are small family businesses) have the support they need to offer residents safe and stable housing.”

The Housing Stabilization Grants program follows the release of a similar program in December 2020 and will target affordable housing providers in the District’s portfolio of income-restricted affordable housing projects, including those financed by the Housing Production Trust Fund, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, and other local and federal affordable housing funds. The program will also target small housing providers with 20 units or less in their DC portfolio.

Grant awards for housing providers will be capped at $2,500 per unit and housing providers can apply for units who either have been served a 60-day or 90-day notice or have arrears that other rental assistance programs have not been able to remedy. As a condition of the funds, the housing providers will have to absolve the tenants of arrears for this period, including fees, penalties, and interest accrued during the period of October 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022. Applications will open on September 12. They will be assessed on a rolling basis and will close on September 30, 2022.

City First Enterprises is managing the applications for the Housing Stabilization Grants and will host two webinars to help property owners prepare for the application process on Monday, September 12 at 5 PM and on Wednesday, September 14 at 10 AM. More information on the webinars and application can be found on the DMPED website at https://dmped.dc.gov/page/housing-stabilization-grants.

The Housing Stabilization Grants are only for housing providers. Tenants in need of rental assistance should submit an application to the Department of Human Services’ Emergency Rental Assistance Program.
 

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CONTACT:
LaToya Foster (EOM) – (202) 727-5011; [email protected]
Natalia Vanegas (DMPED) – (202) 769-7751; [email protected]