October 2018 DHCD Connection Newsletter

Department of Housing and Community Development Connection

Letter from the DHCD Director

polly D

Greetings Washingtonians, 

“1, 2, 3!” is often what we chant when breaking ground or cutting a ribbon on an affordable housing project. This month, we are using it to tout three straight years of breaking boundaries with affordable housing investments through the Housing Production Trust Fund (HPTF).

As you know, Mayor Bowser has committed $100 million annually to the HPTF. To shine the spotlight on her housing successes, she designated September 24 - October 1 as Roots to Roofs Housing Week. The week ended on a high note—literally—as the Mayor announced that in FY 2018, we committed almost $168 million to 25 affordable housing projects just from the HPTF. Most significantly, we broke the $100 million threshold in FY 2016 and FY 2017. This amount of annual local investment has never occurred before.

When we add in other federal funding sources, the FY18 investment total jumps to almost $178 million!

The District Government acts as a provider of gap financing, and with our investments in affordable housing production and preservation, we are bridging the gap in historic ways, not just annually, but cumulatively. Since January 1, 2015, DHCD has invested over $471 million (almost $1/2 billion) in HPTF to produce and or preserve over 5,200 units of affordable housing.

This represents safe and affordable housing from HTPF investments for over 11,600 residents—including individuals, families, our seniors, and veterans.

I’m pleased that over the last three years, DHCD has met, and exceeded, the Mayor’s charge to aggressively achieve her vision of affordable housing in all eight wards. We are excited about what the future holds in delivering even more affordable housing for District residents.

Polly Donaldson, DHCD Director

Follow me on Twitter: @maryrandolph


Housing Week Recap

Roots to Roofs

Mayor Bowser Celebrated Housing Week with Groundbreakings, Ribbon Cuttings—
and a Major Announcement  

Mayor Bowser designated September 24 through October 1 as Roots to Roofs Housing Week in the District, and it was filled with events highlighting her Administration’s progress in creating and preserving affordable housing options across the District. We’ll recap a few of the events:

  • HPTF announcement and groundbreaking of Delta Towers on October 1
  • Envision Tiny House Living, DC Style: An unveiling of a tiny home demonstration project on September 24
  • A reception celebrating 40 years of HPAP on September 26
  • Ceremonial groundbreaking of Capitol Vista on September 25

Other Housing Week events included:

  • Ribbon-cutting ceremony for the short-term family housing program in Ward 4 on September 26
  • Groundbreaking ceremony of Cynthia Townhomes (part of DC Housing Finance Agency's [DCHFA’s] Housing Investment Platform [HIP]) with Brian Kenner, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) on September 27
  • Welcome home visits with residents of Elvans Road Townhomes (the first HIP development) and Kenner on September 28

Mayor Bowser Announces Historic HPTF Investments

HPTF mmb

In closing out Housing Week, Mayor Bowser celebrated a record annual investment in affordable housing—in FY18, the Bowser Administration was able to commit $167.6 million from the HPTF to 25 projects that will create or preserve more than 1,600 affordable housing units for over 3,600 residents.

For three straight years, the Mayor has exceeded her annual commitment of $100 million to the HPTF. Furthermore, since coming into office, her HPTF investment has substantially increased each year, from $58.6 million in FY15, $106.89 million in FY16, $138.59 million in FY17 and $167.6 million in FY18. As a result, the administration has been able to use multiple programs and tools to deliver 6,000 units of affordable housing, with an additional 5,200 under construction.

HPTF investments

The FY18 funding will provide gap financing benefitting a wide variety of residents, including seniors, families, and veterans. The $167.6 million investment includes $91.4 million for eight new construction projects that will provide over 650 units and $76.2 million for 16 preservation projects that will provide over 950 units. Most of the FY18 funding is being allocated to projects that will support households earning up to 50 percent of the 2018 Median Family Income (MFI) or $59,000 for a family of four.

This historic achievement was announced at the groundbreaking of Delta Towers, one of the FY18 projects funded by the HPTF.

A Little Rain Could Not Dampen Our Tiny Home Unveiling

tiny house 2

The rain didn't ruin the September 24 kick-off of Housing Week: An unveiling of two tiny homes in the Deanwood neighborhood of Ward 7. The homes, which are part of a demonstration project, were designed and built in partnership with the DC Students Construction Trades Foundation and students in the Academy of Construction and Design at IDEA Public Charter School in Northeast DC.

To build mystery, the tiny homes were shielded from attendees by a "before" backdrop, right out of HGTV. Director Donaldson explained how the project allows residents to see how what a neighborhood would be like with a tiny home. Before that backdrop was pulled away to reveal the homes, Donaldson and DHCD Chief of Staff Latrena Owens took a photo with the proud student builders. Afterward, students conducted tours.

Get a glimpse of the interiors here and see this NBC4 Washington report. If you would like to visit the homes in person, tours are available.

The demonstration project is part of Mayor Bowser’s five-point Vacant to Vibrant DC initiative, under which DHCD:

  • has issued contracts to two Certified Business Enterprises—Katco and H.E.P.—to renovate vacant buildings into affordable housing;
  • will soon close on its agreement to build affordable housing on two sites through DCHFA's HIP;
  • is actively finalizing closing on 32 auction sites; and
  • signed four easements with Casey Trees that will conserve valuable green space in the District.

More Housing for Seniors Is Coming to Delta Towers

Delta Towers

Mayor Bowser has made the creation and preservation of affordable housing for seniors a priority—so on October 1, she broke ground on Delta Towers in the Trinidad neighborhood of Ward 5.

Located at 1400 Florida Avenue NE, Delta Towers is currently a 149-unit affordable housing community comprised of seniors age 55 and older earning up to 30 percent of the 2018 MFI or $35,160 for a family of four. HPTF financing will facilitate the redevelopment of the existing building to include adding 30 more affordable units. Eighteen of the new units will be used for permanent supportive housing (PSH).

New features will include amenities designed to foster social interaction, including a community room, computer access, a fitness center, and 4,300 square feet of ground floor retail.

HPAP Celebration Marks 40 Years of Helping
Thousands of First-time Homeowners

hpap gifts

Midway through Housing Week, over 70 attendees joined DHCD in Celebrating HPAP: 40 Years of Helping DC Residents Buy Their First Homes, during a September 26 reception at the Honfleur Gallery in Anacostia. The law implementing HPAP became effective Sept. 12, 1978, and since then more than 7,700 first-time homeowners have received $214 million in down payment and closing cost assistance.

The reception provided an opportunity to acknowledge HPAP recipients as well as the partners who helped them along the way: HPAP administrators Greater Washington Urban League (GWUL) and DCHFA and these DHCD-funded community-based organizations: (1) Latino Economic Development Corporation; (2) Lydia’s House; (3) Housing Counseling Services; (4) University Legal Services; (5) AARP Legal Counsel for the Elderly; (6) Central American Resource Center; (7) GWUL; (8) Manna, Inc.; and (9) Marshall Heights Community Development Organization.

hpap 2

Lamont Lee, DHCD’s residential and community services manager, personally thanked the DHCD staffers who work with HPAP: Kwyna Howard, Andrea Lee, and Sherrell Jennings (photo at right).

Three HPAP recipients gave heartfelt remarks about their journey toward homeownership and were surprised with gift baskets:

  • Juanda Smith, who still lives in the home she purchased over 30 years ago using HPAP.
  • Miati Taliaferro, who explained that because she kept her eyes on the homeownership prize, her youngest child only knows about having a home of his own.
  • Sharon Lucas, who was inspired to share her story, including that she just made her last mortgage payment.

In addition to celebrating HPAP, visitors got a sneak peek at an art exhibition of Love, Hope and Street Art by Luis Peralta Del Valle.

This Washington Post story reported on the program's milestone. 

Capitol Vista Will Add Affordable Housing to
Mount Vernon Triangle Corridor

capitol vista

On Day 2 of Housing Week, Mayor Bowser and her housing team broke ground at Capitol Vista, a 104-unit affordable housing community in the Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood in Ward 6. All units will be set aside for households earning up to 50 percent MFI or $58,600 for a family of four. The project will include 3,000 square feet of ground floor retail and space for public art.

October 2018 Edition


Caper

On Nov. 15, Share Your Input on DC's FY18 Affordable Housing and Community Development Work

DHCD is soliciting public comments on the District’s effectiveness during FY 2018 at using federal funds to meet the city’s housing and community development needs. This is in preparation for submitting the FY18 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Details

  • Date: November 15, 2018
  • Time: 6:30 p.m.
  • Location: Marshall Heights Community Development Organization, 3939 Benning Road NE
  • RSVP here

construction man

DHCD Seeks Offers to
Transform Ward 7 Site into Affordable Housing

DHCD has released a Solicitation for Offers (SFO) to transform a parcel at 58th and Dix Streets NE into a mixed use development with affordable housing in the Northeast Boundary community of Ward 7.

The affordable rental housing would target households making no more than $93,760 (80 percent MFI for a family of four).

A  pre-bid meeting is being held so interested parties can learn more about the parcels and the solicitation process:

  • Date: October 30, 2018
  • Time: 6:00 p.m.
  • Location: DHCD Housing Resource Center
  • RSVP here

The deadline for submitting proposals is December 28, 2018.

As a reminder, you have until October 29 to submit proposals in response to two SFOs in Ward 8:

Go here to request access in order to submit a proposal for the sites. For additional information and questions, contact padd.sfo@dc.gov.


Quick Links

Here are some links to popular DHCD services:


Video Stories

R2R5

Five homeowners share how it is possible to purchase affordable housing in DC. 

Norwood

This video shares how we are helping residents by producing and preserving affordable housing, and revitalizing neighborhoods. 

expo

We had great memories from the 10th Annual DC Housing Expo and Home Show. See video clips here and here (the second is thanks to WHUR).