The mission of the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is to create and preserve opportunities for affordable housing and economic development, and to revitalize underserved communities in the District of Columbia.
Summary of Services
DHCD’s fundamental activities consist of financial operations, program delivery, administration of regulations, and support of the independent Rental Housing Commission. The specific strategic objectives that DHCD focuses on to stimulate economic development and spur the dream of home ownership in underserved communities are (1) preserve and increase the supply of quality affordable housing throughout the District, (2) increase homeownership opportunities to residents of low and moderate income households, and (3) revitalize District neighborhoods by promoting community development that embraces economic opportunities for local businesses. DHCD creates and preserves affordable housing by providing low-cost gap financing and subsidies for single-family residential rehabilitation and multi-family construction projects to garner affordable rental and homeownership opportunities throughout the city. DHCD also leverages its appropriated local and federal funding to help finance community facilities, acquire property, and administer disposition activities for vacant and abandoned properties to help stabilize District neighborhoods and provide new local opportunities. DHCD partners with community-based organizations citywide to implement residential and community services that include homeownership assistance programs, housing counseling services, storefront facades improvement initiatives, and small business technical assistance services. In addition, DHCD administers the rental housing regulations that govern condominium and cooperative conversions, rent control, inclusionary zoning, and affordable dwelling unit programs. The Affordable Housing Locator is also a service of DHCD and is available online at dchousingsearch.org. All of these programs and services can be accessed through DHCD’s Housing Resource Center located in the historic Anacostia neighborhood in Ward 8.
