Councilmember Anita Bonds Statement on DCHA Settlement

COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

OFFICE OF COUNCILMEMBER ANITA BONDS 

 

For Immediate Release:

Contact 202-724-8064

September 15, 2020

 

COUNCILMEMBER ANITA BONDS STATEMENT ON SETTLEMENT PROVIDING INCREASED SECURITY AT 10 PUBLIC HOUSING PROPERTIES

WASHINGTON, DC – At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds releases the following statement in response to the agreed settlement between the DC Office of Attorney General (OAG) and the DC Housing Authority (DCHA). The settlement requires DCHA to install and maintain lights and security cameras, hire additional security personnel, secure vacant units, perform daily inspections, and perform frequent property maintenance. DCHA must also engage with residents and other community stakeholders about safety issues on a regular and ongoing basis, provide $500,000 in funding over five years for violence interruption services, and report monthly to OAG regarding compliance. 

“Today’s settlement marks an important step in ensuring the safety and security of our city’s public housing residents. The alleged criminal activity and lack of security at the ten housing sites, including inadequate lighting, and vacant units is concerning as safety and security are important to our residents wherever they make their home in DC. There should not be different standards of safety in different communities in our city, and the Metropolitan Police Department has a role to play as well in ensuring uniform protection, even as the Council continues to evaluate essential policing reform measures.” 

“The Committee on Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization, on which I serve as Chair, has been focused over the past number of years on rehabilitating the District’s public housing stock to ensure that modernized and sanitary living conditions are in place for some of our city’s most vulnerable residents. I have worked to create safer living conditions through several measures, including providing increased funding for security operations and by originating the use of local funds to accelerate long-neglected repairs to public housing units.”

“I support today’s settlement and look forward to the Housing Authority continuing to uphold their requirements to better protect residents on our public housing properties. By requiring comprehensive security planning and reporting, the agreement makes significant progress in restoring confidence amongst the properties’ residents, who are already under tremendous stress as they go about their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Provision of safe and secure housing is a fundamental human right. We must work to ensure that the agency has a forward-looking vision to implement innovative initiatives to promote public safety on all of its properties.”

OAG filed suit against DCHA in June 2020, alleging that the agency violated the District's Nuisance Act by neglecting to make necessary security improvements to protect residents from persistent drug- and firearm-related activity at ten public housing properties.

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