The D.C. Council on Tuesday unanimously passed a bill aiming to address the crisis of unpaid rent and delayed eviction cases that has put affordable housing providers’ financial stability at risk.
The legislation to reform the Emergency Rental Assistance Program was passed as a temporary emergency measure, expediting the process to move it directly to Mayor Muriel Bowser’s desk for signature. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson said he plans to advance permanent legislation in the coming months that could address any issues that arise with the emergency bill.
The mayor held a press conference Monday to voice her support for the bill and detail other actions her administration is taking to support housing providers.
Those actions include diverting $80M in Housing Production Trust Fund money — which otherwise would fund new construction or preservation — to provide bridge loans to prevent subsidized affordable housing properties from going into foreclosure.
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