August 2018 DHCD Connection Newsletter

District of Columbia sent this bulletin at 08/15/2018 06:11 PM EDT

Department of Housing and Community Development Connection

Letter from the DHCD Director

Greetings Washingtonians,

Summer may be winding down, but as you will see in this issue of the newsletter, DHCD is stepping up our efforts to produce and preserve more affordable housing for District residents. Two weeks ago, we announced our Summer 2018 Request for Proposals (RFP) for affordable housing projects, giving developers until September 28 to submit an application. This comes just two months after Mayor Bowser announced nine new projects from our Fall 2017 RFP that will provide affordable housing for more than 1,700 residents.

The wide variety of federal and local funding sources available through the Summer 2018 RFP will allow us to house even more low-to moderate-income individuals and families. It will also target especially vulnerable populations like those struggling with homelessness.

Owners of small affordable properties sometimes struggle in a different way. Their buildings may need major repairs, but financial resources are scarce. Having funds for repairs may make the difference between preserving safe—and affordable—housing, and further disrepair. So we’ve decided to help by launching a pilot program that will provide grants to eligible property owners. We encourage them to apply now, because funds are limited.

Finally, Mayor Bowser charged me to aggressively dispose of DHCD-owned property and transform them into affordable housing and other productive uses. We are meeting this mandate through an active solicitation process. Though initiatives like Vacant to Vibrant DC, we are encouraging the conservation of green space that many residents treasure.

For DHCD, there’s no such thing as a summer break: we are working harder than ever for District residents, and plan to have even more exciting news to share in the coming weeks.

Polly Donaldson, DHCD Director

Follow me on Twitter: @maryrandolph

Residents Are on Pathway to Homeownership

Several potential first-time homebuyers recently completed participation in a Homebuyers Club conducted in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of African-American Affairs (MOAAA) and DHCD.

This club was organized to increase the rate of homeownership among African-Americans in the District. Mayor Bowser has made creating pathways to the middle-class a top priority for her administration. The club fits within her Roots to Roofs DC campaign, which aims to create opportunities for homeownership and access to affordable housing for District residents who have roots stretching across several generations or new residents who want to put down roots in the city.

Participants in the MOAAA Homebuyers Club attended five sessions, which also included sessions hosted by the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB) as part of the Financially Fit DC initiative. They received information on HPAP, EAHP, and DC Open Doors, to include the home purchasing and housing counseling services funded by DHCD through our community-based organizations (CBOs). University Legal Services conducted the MOAAA Homebuyers Club.

Mayor Bowser Launches Latest RFP for Affordable Housing Projects

Mayor Bowser on August 2 announced that DHCD is now accepting proposals from housing industry specialists to produce and preserve more affordable housing in the District of Columbia.

Through the Summer 2018 RFP, DHCD will provide gap financing for projects that will produce new affordable housing units or preserve existing units. The agency is partnering with the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA), the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), and the Department of Human Services (DHS) to offer funding sources from the Housing Production Trust Fund (HPTF), 9 percent Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, the Local Rent Supplement Program (LRSP), and federal programs. The RFP provides that permanent supportive housing must make up 5 percent of the units in new construction and vacant rehabilitation rental properties.

Applicants must apply online and submit their RFP application by Friday, September 28, 2018.

New $200K Grant Program to Help
Small Building Owners Make Critical Repairs

In an effort to help small building owners in need of making critical repairs—and preserve affordable housing—DHCD has launched a $200,000 Small Buildings Grant Program. Formerly known as Great Spaces Healthy Places, the program will provide grants for limited systems replacement and other key repairs to buildings where at least 50 percent of the households earn no more than 80 percent of the median family income (MFI).

The building must have between five and 20 units, be at least 75 percent occupied, and meet certain other criteria. Grants are available up to $25,000 per dwelling unit, with a maximum of $200,000 per project. Accordingly, funds are limited and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications are available online and will be processed beginning September 1, 2018. Funds will be awarded after October 1, 2018. For more information, contact SBP.DHCD@dc.gov or (202) 442-8392.

Transforming Vacant Spaces

Offers Sought to Transform Vacant Ward 8 Sites into Affordable Housing

DHCD recently released Solicitations for Offers (SFOs) to transform several sites in the Ward 8 neighborhoods of Anacostia and Congress Heights into affordable housing for District residents.

Through the SFOs, DHCD is seeking proposals to build affordable housing designated toward households making no more than $93,760 (80 percent of the 2018 MFI for a family of four), at the following sites:

Anacostia “Scattered Sites”: 1414 22nd Street SE, 1615 V Street SE, 1637 V Street SE and 2206 16th Street SE
Greater Congress Heights Sites: 1444, 1452, and 1454 Alabama Avenue SE

The SFOs note that successful proposals are those that:

maximize affordability across multiple income levels, but targeting at least half of units to households at or below $58,600 (50 percent MFI);
commit to long-term or permanent affordability—to include at least 40 years for rental units;
include two and three bedroom units;
provide job creation for District residents, and opportunities for Small Business Enterprises (SBEs) and Certified Business Enterprises (CBEs); and
have quality design that complements the neighborhood’s architecture.

The deadline for submitting proposals is October 29, 2018. Pre-Bid meetings will be held at 10:00 a.m. at DHCD’s Housing Resource Center, 1800 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE on August 29 for the Greater Congress Heights sites and August 30 for the Anacostia sites.

Go here to request access in order to submit a proposal for the sites.

For additional information and questions, contact padd.sfo@dc.gov.

Plans for Senior Housing at Kennedy Street NW Shared at July 25 Hearing

New senior housing is coming to a formerly DHCD-owned property at 809-813 Kennedy Street NW, and the agency held a July 25 hearing so the public could learn more details. Chief of Staff Latrena Owens, joined by DHCD attorney Antoinette Moore, opened up the hearing by summarizing the disposition steps that occurred with the site. Corey Powell, representing site developer Dantes Partners/Gilbane Development Company JV LLC, explained how the land will be transformed into 37 affordable units for seniors making no more than 50 percent MFI. We also heard from residents who had questions about the disposition process.

Small Business Booster

Vacant to Vibrant DC Conservation Gets Kudos at Hearing

Mayor Bowser's Vacant to Vibrant DC initiative not only involves providing affordable housing in the District, but also increasing green space--a need tresidents want. Action Point 4 is the conservation effort with Casey Trees. At a July 26 public hearing, representatives from Casey Trees and other residents testified on how grateful they were for the District government's support of urban land conservation.

We Had a Great Time Sharing SBTA Information at Great Streets Conference

DHCD shared information about the types of support we provide to small businesses at the July 9 Great Streets Conference, sponsored by the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED).

The conference is in its 3rd year and has two goals: (1) connect prospective applicants to all Great Street key agency partners and community-based resources available in preparation for submittal of a quality Great Streets application; and (2) share with the small business community how the administration is providing opportunities for local and small businesses to grow across the District.

Edward D. Davis, program manager of DHCD's Neighborhood Based Activities division,talked to attendees about the small business technical assistance (SBTA) offered by DHCD-funded CBOs. These services include micro-loan packaging, business planning, entrepreneurial training, tax preparation, accounting, or legal assistance. Davis also plugged the $1.5 million in SBTA grants being offered to CBOs through an application process that closed August 13.

August 2018 Edition

Reminder About New Fund for Nonprofit Developers

Now that DHCD has launched a new request for proposals (RFP), it's a good time to remind nonprofit developers about a new fund to help get their affordable housing projects off the ground faster.

Through the $2 million Oramenta Newsome Predevelopment Loan, qualified non-profit organizations and limited equity cooperatives (LECs) can apply for up to $100,000 per project to help partially cover pre-development costs, such as architectural plans and third party reports, that DHCD requires as part of its RFP application.

Nonprofits that are considering submitting an RFP should also check to see how they can qualify for monies under the Newsome Fund.

Job Opening

DHCD is in search of a leader in affordable housing and real estate development to oversee its Development Finance Division (DFD). The division administers the Housing Production Trust Fund (HPTF), low income housing tax credits (9 percent and 4 percent), as well as federal funds for the production and rehabilitation of affordable housing. For more details, go to http://www.dchr.dc.gov and search for Job ID 4500-Sup Housing & Dev Project Manager.

Over $1.9M in HPAP/ EAHP Goes to 33 Households in July

In July, 34 households in the District received more than $1.9 million in down payment and closing cost assistance to become first-time homeowners. Congratulations to our newest Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP) and Employer Assisted Housing Program (EAHP) recipients!

Quick Links

Here are some links to popular DHCD services:

DHCD Income Limits: Can help determine your eligibility for DHCD programs.
Inclusionary Zoning (IZ): Get an overview of this affordable housing tool.
IZ Dashboard: View a map and/or table of IZ projects.
Community-Based Organizations (CBOs): Provide services such as housing counseling and small business technical assistance.
Home Purchase Assistance: Learn about how we help residents get the keys to their own home.
Rent Control Forms: Access forms for housing providers and tenants.

Video Stories

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

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

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).

Other News of Note

Housing Providers and Real Estate Pros Pack Workshop on TOPA Law

Over 150 persons filled the former DC Council Chambers Room at One Judiciary Square on July 25 to learn more about a new law that exempts most single family properties from the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act of 1980 (TOPA).

Representatives from DHCD's Conversion and Sales Division (CASD) gave an overview of The TOPA Single-Family Home Exemption Amendment Act of 2018 (Act 22-339), which became effective on July 3. Most attendees consisted of housing providers and real estate professionals, as well as representatives from the Office of the Tenant Advocate (OTA), who provided insight on their role with the new law. The CASD received some great feedback, and as a result is making more revisions to conversion and sales forms.

In addition to exempting single family properties from TOPA, the law also exempts single family dwellings with an Accessory Dwelling Unit and a single rental unit in a condo, co-op or homeowners’ association. Special criteria applies to certain elderly or disabled tenants, however. If they signed a lease to occupy such an exempted unit by March 31, 2018 and took occupancy by April 15, 2018, they will have a limited opportunity to purchase or assign their rights.

This was a Facebook Live event, so in case you missed it, you can view it here.

Conway Center Is Finalist for National Housing Award

The Conway Center, a $90 million development by So Others Might Eat (SOME), is one of 13 finalists for the Jack Kemp Excellence in Affordable and Workforce Housing Award. The award, which honors exemplary developments that ensure housing affordability for people with a range of incomes, is sponsored by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Terwilliger Center for Housing

Developments competing for the Kemp Award may be 100 percent affordable or may contain a mix of affordable and market-rate units. SOME developed 202 units of affordable rental housing as part of a mixed-use project in Ward 7. DHCD provided over $17 million in HPTF financing for the project. The winner will be announced during the 2018 ULI Fall Meeting, October 8-11 in Boston.

Team DHCD: About Town

Following are some highlights of recent DHCD outreach and educational activities.

Doing our Part for a #SaferStrongerDC. Part of DHCD’s mission is revitalizing neighborhoods, and this means working with partner agencies to ensure our communities are safe for residents. Administrative Analyst Michael Smalls represented DHCD at a July 19 planning meeting for #SaferStrongerDC led by the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Greater Economic Opportunity (DMGEO). The meeting extended beyond the four walls into the Ward 8 community, where groups of District government representatives fanned out to assess problem areas and get feedback from residents.

DHCD Employee Is Now Member of Mayor's Green Building Advisory Council. Lamont Lee, manager of our Residential and Community Services Division, is now wearing another hat. On August 2, he was sworn in as DHCD’s designee on Mayor Bowser’s Green Building Advisory Council. The duties of the 13-member council include monitoring the District's compliance with green building requirements and making recommendations on green building policies. While seven council members are District agency representatives, the remaining six come from the private and nonprofit sectors, and have expertise in areas such as building construction, development, engineering, natural resources conservation, energy conservation, green building practices, environmental protection and environmental law.

Mentoring Our Summer Interns. An annual highlight for the agency year is hosting interns from the Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program. Our six interns for 2018 were Joshua Bryant, Diamond Calloway, Xavier Jackson, Carlandzo Smith, Kenneth Tillman and Giavonna Turner. DHCD staff led workshops with them twice weekly to discuss their future goals and provide guidance. The curriculum included but was not limited to: (1) an orientation and building tour; (2) DHCD’s programs; (3) a career inventory; (4) careers in the District government; (5) how to be an outstanding employee; (6) resume writing and presentation skills; (7) financial management; and (8) social media do’s and don’ts.

In a vision board exercise, each intern created a PowerPoint presentation describing their past, present, and future; this was shared with DHCD staff during a powerful and moving ceremony. Not only did the interns receive a standing ovation, but they also received journals from DHCD Correspondence Coordinator Mozella Johnson so they could keep track of their goals. The interns closed out their time at DHCD with a lunch meeting with Director Donaldson and Deputy Director Allison Ladd, a certificate presentation, and an ice cream social with staff.

“If I had one word to describe this group of interns, it would be OUTSTANDING,” said DHCD Training and Development Manager Angela Nottingham.

HPTF Board Gets Updates on Housing Initiatives. Our July 26 HPTF advisory board meeting was packed with information from several district agencies that help provide housing for District residents. Tyrone Garrett, executive director of the DC Housing Authority, explained how the Housing Choice Voucher program plays a critical role in helping low- and moderate-income residents find affordable housing. Sharon Carney of DMPED described the Opportunity Zone program, which provides tax incentives for investments in new businesses and commercial projects in low-income communities. DHCD staff shared the latest affordable housing development statistics, and board members met Reshma Holla, the new DFD deputy manager.

Taking Action on the District's Housing and Community Needs. On July 25, DHCD held a public hearing in Ward 4 on the District’s FY19/FY18 Annual Action Plan for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The hearing was part of the District’s Citizen’s Participation Plan process as stated in the District’s Consolidated Plan. It was the second hearing in July and the third Citizen Participation event of the summer.

The purpose of the hearing was to gain feedback from District residents as DHCD continues to draft the FY 2019 Annual Action Plan. The hearing started with Director Donaldson discussing the background of the plan and the agency’s responsibility to seek public input and feedback. Next, Donaldson and DHCD staff heard testimonies from residents on the goals, priorities, and focus of the plan .As the hearing concluded, Donaldson reminded attendees they could provide comments through August 13, 2018. The draft of the Action Plan is on DHCD’s website, at DC public libraries, and at DHCD’s Housing Resource Center. DHCD will incorporate public input into the plan to ensure the plans accurately represents the District’s needs until its mandated submission to HUD on August 15, 2018.

Mark Your Calendars for Upcoming Events

Please note these upcoming events. Don't forget to sign up for DHCD event alerts to get regular announcements and updates, as well as registration information through Eventbrite, and check our website for events from CBOs and other partners.

August 22, 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.: Let's Talk Rent Control: Top 4 Paperwork Rules to Understand. Location: DHCD First Floor Conference Room.
August 29, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.: Pre-bid Meeting: Greater Congress Heights Sites (Alabama Avenue SE). Location: DHCD Housing Resource Center
August 30, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.: Pre-bid Meeting: Anacostia Scattered Sites. Location: DHCD Housing Resource Center

See Latest Affordable Housing Stats

The Bowser Administration is producing and preserving more affordable housing than ever before in the District's history. See the latest statistics from the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development's dashboard (see graphic), as well as a pipeline report of DHCD-specific projects.