$10M Black Homeownership Fund

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@TeamMuriel
 
Muriel Bowser Ward 4
 
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John A. Wilson Building

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004

 

Phone: (202) 727-2643
Email: muriel.bowser@dc.gov

Chief of Staff:
John Falcicchio

City Administrator:
Kevin Donahue

Director of the Mayor's Office of Legal Counsel:
Eugene Adams

Senior Advisor:
Beverly Perry

Director of Mayor's Office of Community Affairs:
Jackie Reyes-Yanes

Director of Mayor's Office of Community Relations and Services:
Julia Irving

Scheduling Requests:
mayor.dc.gov/page/invite-mayor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 1, 2022

Letter from the Mayor

Dear Washingtonians,

When I was 27, I made a life-changing choice — I used a homebuyers program to buy my first home in Washington, DC. Buying a home allowed me to think boldly about my own life and it has allowed me to think boldly about my daughter's future. That is, we know, the power of homeownership. 

And now, with a new $10 million Black Homeownership Fund proposed in my Fiscal Year 2023 Budget, I want to make those same opportunities available to more longtime Washingtonians. This fund will address disparities created by years of redlining and other discriminatory practices. And those disparities are stark. We know, for example, that only 34 percent of Black Washingtonians own their homes versus nearly 49 percent of white residents. We also know that a first-time homebuyer with the average white household income could afford 71% of the homes sold in DC between 2016 and 2020, including all homes sold in Wards 7 and 8. In comparison, a first-time homebuyer with the average Black household income could afford only 8.4% of the homes sold. These disparities are the result of intentional discriminatory policies and now we are very intentionally working to overcome those injustices.

To ensure we make the best use of this new fund, this summer, I am convening a Black Homeownership Strike Force to identify actionable recommendations to increase and support homeownership for longtime, Black residents of the District of Columbia. The Strike Force will be informed by researchers and include stakeholders in the housing, finance, legal, and real estate industries along with community representatives who can lend their perspective and experience to the challenges and opportunities for homeownership in DC.   

Please visit homeownership.dc.gov to share ideas with us or to express interest in serving on the Strike Force. Together, we can help more families keep and build their legacies in Washington, DC. 

Sincerely,

Muriel Bowser

In This Week's Newsletter:

Registration for DPR Summer Camps Begins on Monday, April 4

DPR Summer Camp

On Monday, April 4, 2022, at 12:00 p.m., the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) will open registration on a rolling basis for the 2022 Summer Camp season, with an array of offerings for children ages 3-13 at 50 DPR facilities across all eight wards. In 2022, DPR will offer more camps and camp slots than any summer since the pandemic began, including Aqua Day Camp, Cookery 202, Jr. Camp, Verano Spanish-language Camp, STEAM camps, sports camps, and more.

2022 Summer Camp Registration Dates

Registration begins on Monday, April 4, 2022. Each day, registration will open at 12:00 p.m. Registration opens:

Residents are reminded to make sure they are able to access their DPR account and their information is up to date before the date to register.

For more information about DPR 2022 Summer Camp, visit dprsummercamp.com or contact the DPR Summer Camp office at (202) 671-0372 or kidscampsandcoop@dc.gov.

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Senior Wellness Centers Are Open

workout class

This week, Mayor Bowser joined a fitness class at the Bernice Fonteneau Senior Wellness Center to highlight that in-person programming is available at wellness centers and meal sites across the District. The Mayor and the DC Department of Aging and Community Living (DCAL) also highlighted investments for DC seniors, while encouraging seniors to register for programming at senior wellness centers.

The Mayor’s FY23 budget focuses on ensuring greater access to opportunities for District seniors including $1 million for expanded transportation access through the Connector Card program, $2.6 million for tablets for qualifying seniors, $750,000 to launch a new grocery card pilot program for qualifying seniors to address food insecurity, and an additional $646,000 in the Eat Well, Live Better! senior nutrition pilot program, providing fresh produce delivery and connection to nutrition education and healthcare for participating seniors.

DACL wellness centers are designed to help seniors continue living boldly by taking charge of their health, wellness, and social life. DC seniors can visit one of our centers to find new hobbies, explore new topics, connect with new friends, and enjoy group lunches. To take advantage of these programs, seniors can contact a senior wellness center near them.
 
Ward 1
Bernice Fonteneau Senior Wellness Center
3531 Georgia Avenue, NW
Phone: (202) 727-0338
 
Wards 2 and 3
Around Town Satellite Wellness Program
4125 Albemarle Street, NW
Phone: (202) 895-9485
 
Ward 4
Hattie Holmes Senior Wellness Center
324 Kennedy Street, NW
Phone: (202) 291-6170
 
Ward 5
Model Cities Senior Wellness Center
1901 Evarts Street, NE
Phone: (202) 635-1900
 
Ward 6
Hayes Senior Wellness Center
500 K Street, NE
Phone: (202) 727-0357
 
Ward 7
Washington Seniors Wellness Center
3001 Alabama Avenue, SE
Phone: (202) 581-9355
 
Ward 8
Congress Heights Senior Wellness Center
3500 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, SE
Phone: (202) 563-7225
 
In addition to senior wellness centers, DACL has more than 40 community dining sites across all eight wards where seniors can also take part in group meals and activities. To find a community dining site near you, please call (202) 724-5626. 

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Second Booster Shots

Booster Update

This week, DC Health announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now recommending a second booster dose for individuals 50 and older, as well as certain individuals who are immunocompromised and at higher risk for severe COVID-19.

Eligible individuals who received their initial booster dose of either the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines on or before December 1, 2021, can now receive a second booster of either vaccine. 

Additionally, adults who received a primary vaccine and booster dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine on or before December 1, 2021 may now receive a second booster dose using an mRNA (Pfizer and Moderna) COVID-19 vaccine.

There are four easy ways to get your booster in DC:

  • Visit a walk-up vaccine clinic or COVID Center. 
  • Make an at-home vaccination appointment by calling 1-855-363-0333.
  • Make an appointment with your health care provider.
  • Find other opportunities to get vaccinated by visiting vaccines.gov.

For more information on COVID-19 vaccination, testing, and COVID Center hours and locations, visit coronavirus.dc.gov.

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Youth Art Contest

Youth Art Contest

As we continue to promote the vaccine and booster shots and encourage the larger goal of health in our community, we want to challenge our students to an art competition. DC residents between the ages of 5 and 12 can enter the #HealthyHeroesDC Student Art Contest to share the healthy choices that they are making, such as getting vaccinated against COVID-19, staying home when you're not feeling well, visiting the doctor regularly, and following other wellness practices. The deadline to submit artwork is April 22, 2022 by 8:00 p.m.

Find full contest rules HERE.

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