.svg)
Neighbors,
When the Council came back into session a few weeks ago, there were a number of big outstanding issues we needed to address before year's end. Earlier this week, we debated and took partial action on one – stabilizing our affordable housing market.
Many affordable housing providers in the District are struggling to continue operations due to loss of rental income over the past few years. A recent surveyof 5 providers representing 126 properties across all 8 wards, showed that the delinquency loss amongst them was more than $12.7 million. This was a sixfold increase over pre-pandemic levels. Across the city, unpaid rent owed to affordable housing providers has risen from $11 million in 2020 to $100 million this year. If these housing providers were to face foreclosure, we would lose even more affordable units as the affordability covenant for the entire building would cease to apply. This week, the Council voted on legislation that aims to address a contributing factor to the challenges these providers are facing.
DC’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) was initially created as a pilot program in FY2007 to help eligible residents facing an emergency gap in income pay overdue rent. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, some well-intentioned reforms were made to the program to keep residents housed while their ERAP applications were being processed and to ease administration of the sheer volume of requests. For example, tenants were able to self-certify their eligibility for ERAP and judges were required to delay eviction proceedings so long as an application for ERAP was pending, regardless of how many times someone had applied. This policy, while enabling renters to stay in their homes, also led to mounting unpaid balances – some as high as $61,000 – which rental aid alone could not cover.
At the Council’s Legislative meeting on Tuesday, the Council made some modifications to the ERAP program. The emergency legislation removes the tenant’s ability to self-attest to the material facts of their case; gives judges discretion as to whether to apply a stay to a particular case; limits the number of stays a court can apply to a pending ERAP application to one per case; and requires the tenant to provide evidence that the application could result in sufficient rental assistance to pay the full amount of rent owed. In ways, this is how the program operated pre-pandemic.
This was a tough issue, but I voted in support of the emergency. The ability of any housing provider, and especially an affordable housing provider, to maintain its property and mortgage greatly relies on its occupants paying their rent in a timely fashion. Depending on the size of the property, even just 10 units being severely behind on payments can upend an entire affordable housing program, leading to consequences for residents of an entire building and millions of tax dollars invested in those affordable properties wasted.
We still have more work to do to stabilize the affordable housing market. Mayor Bowser recently announced that the Housing Production Trust Fund would not support any new projects this year, but rather that funding will be used to stabilize existing affordable housing. This is certainly a blow to our affordable housing production goals, but at this moment I think it's imperative to focus on preservation. We must respond to the changing landscape of the District, and as we go forward on this issue and others, I will do my best to keep you informed.
In service, Christina HendersonCouncilmember, At-LargeChristinaHendersonDC.com
Key Legislative Updates
On Tuesday, October 1, during the DC Council’s Legislative Meeting, both the Pearl B. Settles Way Designation Act of 2024 and the Red-backed Salamander Official State Amphibian Designation Act of 2024 passed on first vote by the DC Council. The Pearl B. Settles Way Designation Act of 2024, co-introduced by Councilmember Henderson, would symbolically designate the 200 block of 37th Place, SE, as Pearl B. Settles Way, while the Red-backed Salamander Official State Amphibian Designation Act of 2024 would designate the Red-backed Salamander as the official state amphibian of the District of Columbia.
The Council also passed the Retired Firefighter and Police Office Redeployment Extension Temporary Amendment Act of 2024, introduced by Councilmember Henderson, on second vote. The legislation would allow retired Metropolitan Police Department officers and retired firefighters from the Fire and Emergency Services Department to be eligible for rehire at the discretion of the Director of the Office of Unified Communication as temporary full time or temporary part-time 911 call takers or 911 dispatchers without losing their retirement benefits.
During the same legislative meeting, the Council of the District of Columbia passed the Certified Nurse Aide Amendment Act of 2024 (formerly known as the Direct Care Worker Amendment Act of 2023). This bill will eliminate barriers to licensure and certification by creating a unified license for Certified Nurse Aides (CNA) and Home Health Aides (HHA), expand the pool of eligible workers, and establish a new minimum wage for those providing direct support services.
The Council confirmed appointees to the Board of Podiatry, the Board of Nursing, and the Board of Massage Therapy. You can view the confirmed below:
Upcoming Committee on Health Hearing Dates
The upcoming schedule for the Committee on Health is below. If you are interested in testifying or submitting written testimony you can sign up on the Council’s website at dccouncil.gov/hearings.
Christina In the Community
2024 La Clinica del Pueblo Summit
On Wednesday, October 2, Councilmember Henderson provided opening remarks at the 2024 La Clinica del Pueblo Summit. The theme of the summit was Amplifying Community Approaches for Immigrant Health Justice, and the summit brought together community members, policymakers, community-based organizations, community health workers, and local advocates to discuss models of care tailored to advancing health equity.
Commuter Connections 50th Anniversary
Later that day, Councilmember Henderson served as master of ceremonies for the 50th anniversary of Commuter Connections. The organization was created in the 1970s as a partnership of the Metroplitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) and the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) to encourage carpooling and transit use to ease traffic congestion and environmental impacts of driving. Councilmember Henderson currently serves as the Chair for the TPB. She is pictured with Sharon Kershbaum, Director of the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), COG Executive Director Clark Mercer, and Mayor Muriel Bowser.
In Case You Missed It: Councilmember Henderson in the News
Equal Portions, Seychelle xRichardson for WPFW 89.3FM, 09/30/2024
Constituent Service Corner
Open Streets: No Cars, Just People
Open Streets is a global initiative that offers communities the opportunity to experience their streets in a whole new way. Open Streets events temporarily close roadways to vehicles to provide safe spaces for walking, biking, skating, and other social activities. The District of Columbia began celebrating Open Streets in 2019 at the inaugural event on Georgia Avenue. This year Open Streets, hosted by the District Department of Transportation, will be located on7th St NW, on Saturday, October 5th from 9am to 3pm. Road closures will occur from 7am to 5pm. Participants can also take part in hourly programmed classes and demonstrations, including yoga, dancing, and more!
Free Weekly Veggie Giveaway
Mayor Bowser presents FREE weekly veggie giveaways at DPR Communal Farms. Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday you can pick up local, fresh, and FREE vegetables from DPR community gardens! For locations and times, refer to the list below. Every Saturday, you can volunteer and harvest during open hours.
1.Edgewood Rooftop Farm 301 Franklin St, NE Giveaways every Tuesday, 11am to 12pm through October 26 Volunteer every Saturday, 9am to 11am through October 26 2.Lederer Garden 4801 Nannie H. Burroughs Avenue NE Giveaways every Wednesday, 11am to 12pm through November 28 Volunteer every Saturday, 9am to 2pm through November 28 3.Powell Communal Farm 3149 16th St NW Giveaways every Thursday, 11am to 12pm through October 26 Volunteer every Saturday, 9am to 11am through October 26
Emergency Preparedness Training
We are excited to invite you to a comprehensive hands-on training event, Hands on Heart Emergency Preparedness Training, presented by the Mayor's Office of Deaf, Deaf Blind and Hard of Hearing (MODDHH). The event will focus on emergency preparedness and will be hosted by MODDHH, DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services, and Gallaudet's Disaster and Emergency Planning Program. Gain practical skills and knowledge on emergency preparedness from experts in the field, the training will be held on Wednesday, October 9 at 11am at Gallaudet University (800 Florida Ave NE – LLRH6 Collab Room 103).
Shelter Locations
Low-barrier shelters are accessible for those experiencing homelessness, operate year round, and remain open 24 hours.
Shelters for Men
Shelters for Women
Shelters for LGBTQ+:
Have a constituent service need related to the Health Committee or any of the other agencies in DC Government? Want Councilmember Henderson to come to your community event or meeting? Don’t hesitate to reach out to our Constituent Services Director Ana Berrios-Vazquez during regular business hours (9:00am - 5:30pm) at 202-724-8105, or ABerriosVazquez@dccouncil.gov.
Stay Connected
Thank you for reading! Please stay in touch.
Christina Henderson
At-Large Councilmember
chenderson@dccouncil.gov
Mike Shaffer
Chief of Staff
mshaffer@dccouncil.gov
Heather Edelman
Deputy Chief of Staff
hedelman@dccouncil.gov
Gabrielle Rogoff
Legislative Director
grogoff@dccouncil.gov
Ana Berríos-Vázquez
Constituent Services Director
aberriosvazquez@dccouncil.gov
Sierra Wallace
Communications Director
swallace@dccouncil.gov
Nicholas Pcholkin
Senior Legislative Assistant
npcholkin@dccouncil.gov
Taylor Coleman
Legislative Aide
tcoleman@dccouncil.gov
Health Committee
Ona Balkus
Committee Director
obalkus@dccouncil.gov
Marcia Huff
Senior Policy Advisor
mhuff@dccouncil.gov
Rebecca Cooper
Health Policy Advisor
rcooper@dccouncil.gov
Ashley Strange
Legislative Assistant
astrange@dccouncil.gov