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Dear Neighbor,
I confronted several issues as Chair of the Housing Committee this month that required close oversight, advocacy, and follow through--from the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). I'm excited to share with you the wins my team and I achieved for residents that will really impact folks' quality of life and ensure District families can meet basic needs:
- Succeeded in getting the Department of Human Services to use $20.6 million in additional federal dollars to help more residents and landlords get emergency rental assistance
- United with Council colleagues to move the mayor to implement the law and fulfill our promise to residents to increase SNAP benefits and get more food on people's tables
- Worked to undo the exclusion of low-income residents from accessing Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP) funds
Money is tight and we have to use taxpayer dollars responsibly. That's why I'm so focused on fixing upstream problems in order to prevent difficult and expensive problems downstream. These programs help prevent future costs stemming from challenges like crime and homelessness. In this newsletter I'll dive into my committee oversight and the latest on public safety in DC, and share upcoming community events, hearings, and resident resources.
Sincerely,
Robert
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The Secure DC Omnibus Crime Bill | |
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I thank Councilmember Pinto for putting forward this massive public safety bill, which combines crime response bills from the mayor, Councilmember Pinto, and me. We need to fix what’s broken in our public safety system: residents shouldn't go unanswered when they call 911, too few people are held accountable for committing violence, our services for youth and emerging adults lack coordination and juvenile crime is spiking, we have a disturbing number of guns flooding our city, and we don't do enough to support victims of crime after violence occurs. Councilmember Pinto included three pieces of my Whole Government Response to Crime Act, which I introduced in October, in the omnibus bill:
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Requiring a firearm tracing data report: By tracking the guns seized in our city to their source we can identify states, gun shops, or types of transactions that are leading to the proliferation of illegal guns on our streets
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Establishing a Victim Services Coordinator and conducting a public awareness campaign about the available services/resources by the Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants (OVSJG); and
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Creating an Emerging Adult Services Director: Even with good programs, we can’t counter the rise in crimes committed by young adults without an overarching strategy. This new director will coordinate and align these various programs and work directly with young adults and other experts to develop a strategy that brings all of DC’s programs to bear on reaching our young people and reversing the rise in juvenile crime.
There are some parts of the omnibus bill that I do not believe are data-driven, and I have questions about how they'll make us safer. On the proposed drug free zones, it's hard to understand how this will change anything: it is already illegal to sell drugs and do drugs in public and MPD can arrest people for these actions today. We all want to end the violence and stop open air drug markets. But making things that are already illegal more illegal doesn’t solve the root problem of too few arrests and prosecutions. So, if we want to end open air drug markets, we have to boost the capacity of the Department of Forensic Sciences to collect and process evidence, MPD has to increase their rate of case closures, and the US Attorney has to increase prosecutions to ensure people are held accountable for illegal actions. I am also concerned about measures in the omnibus that would roll back police transparency and accountability reforms. We have to be laser focused on what will stop the violence in DC. I look forward to working with my Council colleagues to pass a bill that makes residents safe, fast, without long term harmful ripple effects on our communities, because that’s what we all deserve.
This bill will come before the Council for a vote on February 6th.
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Mark Your Calendar: Conversation About Youth Violence | |
Save the date for Monday, January 29, and tune in virtually at 7pm for this live conversation between me and two local leaders passionate about working with our youth, Tony Lewis Jr. and Missy Jackson, on what we're hearing around the city about juvenile crime and what we can do to stop it. You can watch the livestream on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. | |
Securing a SNAP Increase for DC Residents | |
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You may have seen headlines earlier this month about Mayor Bowser refusing to increase monthly SNAP benefits. I am proud that the Council rallied together to successfully push the mayor to implement the law increasing SNAP and keeping our promise to residents who were struggling to put food on the table. DC Department of Human Services announced that eligible residents will receive the first increased SNAP payment in February. I shared more about what's at issue with the SNAP debate on WAMU's Politics Hour with Kojo Nnamdi.
The administration also changed its position on the Summer EBT program and agreed to participate. When initial news stories came out suggesting the mayor would not participate, I immediately asked DC Human Services (DHS) leadership why not. This program will add federal dollars to DC's budget to help families whose children qualify for free meals at school to buy groceries during the summertime when schools are closed, so I'm relieved that the District will take part.
Fully funding programs like SNAP and Summer EBT matters. Before the SNAP increase, some residents were having to make do on $30 a month for food. That's impossible. Not meeting people's basic needs feeds into the trends we're seeing around distressing school truancy rates, violence, shoplifting, and more.
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Ensuring $20.6 Million Will Go Towards Emergency Rental Assistance | |
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Facing historic inflation and the end of pandemic supports, District residents are struggling to avoid eviction and displacement and we're seeing a high need for rental assistance. Residents with incomes lower than 40% of the Area Median Income (AMI) can apply for ERAP once a year. The ERAP application portal opened at noon on January 2. By 6 pm that evening the portal had already received 3,500 applications, which is the maximum that DHS will accept this quarter.
With the ERAP portal opening and closing within 24 hours this quarter, I urged DHS to use the $20.6 million in federal dollars that I worked with Chairman Mendelson to put towards emergency rental assistance. In some good news for residents, the agency agreed to incorporate this funding when they open the ERAP application portal during the next two quarters: in April and July. This will allow them to increase the number of applications they accept to 8,500 in April and 4,000 in July, which will help more residents stay in their homes and avoid displacement and homelessness.
Find answers to frequently asked questions and explainers from DHS on how to prepare your application materials before the next ERAP opening on April 1, here.
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Fighting to Ensure Low-Income Prospective Homeowners Can Access HPAP Funding | |
I shared in last month's newsletter that I introduced, and the Council unanimously passed, emergency legislation that required DHCD to grandfather in residents who were deemed eligible for HPAP funding before it ran out in June 2023, but were excluded by new HPAP restrictions announced in October 2023. Unfortunately, the HPAP dashboard showed that funding would likely run out before the deadline for the mayor to sign my emergency bill into law early this month. I spoke with the mayor, urging her to sign the law quickly or direct the agency to begin implementing it ASAP. I'm grateful that she did direct DHCD to immediately grandfather in the affected residents, and I've since heard from many who have successfully closed on their homes! Congratulations to these first-time homebuyers who are putting down roots and building intergenerational wealth in the District. | |
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Your perspective is important in helping to shape our laws. Below are upcoming oversight hearings in my Committee on Housing and I encourage you to sign up to testify and share your experiences with the agencies my committee oversees. You can view all upcoming Council hearings here. To register to testify, click on the hearing link and click the "Register to Testify" button. If you'd rather submit written testimony, click the "Submit Testimony" button.
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Upcoming Community Events | |
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I'm committed to making myself and my team available and accessible for community members like you. I'll continue spending time in all 8 wards to meet with you in your neighborhood and hear about the concerns on your mind.
My Next Community Office Hours will be in Ward 6
Wednesday, February 21st, 3:30-5:30pm
Northeast Neighborhood Library
Anacostia Coordinating Committee Monthly Meeting
Tuesday, January 30th, 11:30am-1:30pm
Martha's Table 2375 Elvans Rd SE
Watch virtually: tinyurl.com/ACC-Monthly
Topic: Prosecuting Crimes in DC
Guests: DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb and US Attorney for DC Matthew Graves
11th Street Bridge Park Town Hall
Thursday, February 8th, 7-9pm
Anacostia High School, 1601 16th St. SE
RSVP here
As the 11th Street Bridge Park prepares to break ground later this year, join a Town Hall meeting to hear the OMA+OLIN architectural team share final designs and project timeline, and review the Bridge Park's latest equitable development plan - strategies to ensure local residents can stay and thrive in place.
|  | It was great to speak with so many residents at my Ward 7 Community Office Hours this month! | |
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Below are various resources that I hope will help solve issues you or your family may be facing. And if you have a specific need, my Constituent Services Director, Andre Strickland, is available to support you.
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Get income tax help at a DC Public Library near you! Eight library locations will host meetings from February 1st until April 15th. Assistance is by appointment only. View schedule with library locations and sign up for an appointment here.
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Calling all formerly incarcerated DC residents: Georgetown University is now accepting applications to its paralegal training program for previously incarcerated residents who want to build careers in the field of law. As Chair of the committee with oversight over reentry and returning citizens I'm proud to have established and funded this program! You'll receive an hourly stipend as you work towards your certificate in Paralegal Studies, along with professional development, and employment support. Learn more and apply here.
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DC high school students at public and public charter schools can now apply for Dual Enrollment through OSSE! This is an opportunity to get a head start on the college experience, start earning credits, and explore various careers and majors before enrolling in college full time. There is NO COST for students selected to participate! Learn more and apply here.
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High school seniors looking for college scholarship funds: Submit an essay for the Washington Wizards Dr. E.B. Henderson Essay Contest! All students who submit an essay that fits the contest criteria will receive two free tickets to a home Wizards game. Deadline to submit is February 1 at 11:59 pm.
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The Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program applications are now live! Please help spread the word widely to DC youth who will be aged 14-24 by June 24, 2024 who are looking for employment opportunities and career training this summer!
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If you're a renter in DC: Your landlord must ensure your unit is at least 68 degrees F between October 1 and May 1. If your landlord is refusing to properly heat your apartment, call the Office of the Attorney General's Hotline (202) 442-9828 for help.
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Open enrollment for DC health insurance closes at the end of this month. Enroll for health insurance through DC Health Link by January 31! Go to DCHealthLink.com/residents or call (855) 532-5465
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Need to reach me or a member of my team? | |
My office is available to you. Connect with me and my staff via phone or email. Please call my personal office at (202) 724-8174, or my committee office at (202) 727-8270, or email any of my team members. If you have a moment, please take my 3-question constituent survey here. | |
Robert C. White, Jr. Councilmember, At-Large | Council of the District of Columbia
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