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Dear Angela,
Seven weeks ago, the Council received Mayor Bowser’s budget proposal. As chair of the Housing Committee, I was concerned that it included no housing vouchers to help people get from homelessness to housing, cuts to the Office of the Tenant Advocate which helps tenants facing eviction, just $8 million in Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) funds to help people who fell behind on rent, and deep cuts to supports for people fleeing domestic violence. I was concerned for the families that would find themselves without a home and how their lives could unravel. I was concerned about the financial impact on the city next year and the following years because it costs taxpayers a lot more to help people after they become homeless than it does to prevent people from becoming homeless.
In the first downward budget in many years, filling these gaps meant that we’d have to spend taxpayer dollars wisely, focus on basic priorities, and work together as a Council. With the assistance of Councilmembers Allen, Nadeau, Lewis George, and Henderson, and significant help from Chairman Mendelson, we are adding $68 Million to ERAP, creating 250 housing vouchers, and restoring most funding to domestic violence programs and to the Office of the Tenant Advocate.
In addition, I fought for dedicated maintenance and rehabilitation funds for public housing because all residents in public housing deserve housing with dignity, and because we need a path to getting hundreds of vacant public housing units back in use for people who need them. With Chairman Mendelson’s help, we will dedicate nearly $75 million a year starting in 2028 to make our public housing the best in the nation.
When we started the budget process, I was clear about my goals: invest in a way that prevents more harm and more cost to residents and focus on basic needs to stabilize our city during a tough economic time. Today, the Council approved a budget that invested millions more in housing programs than the budget proposal we received in March, and created for the first time dedicated funds for public housing maintenance and construction. I’m proud of what we accomplished.
Sincerely,
Robert
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