Legal Alert

Q&A: D.C. Housing Stabilization Grants

by the Real Estate Development and Transactions Group
December 11, 2020

The District of Columbia recently announced Housing Stabilization Grants with funds from the federal CARES Act to provide COVID-19 related relief to District housing providers. Eligible landlords may be entitled to 80% of overdue rent for the period April 1, 2020, to November 30, 2020, up to a maximum of $2,000 per residential unit per month. Applications by housing providers for the Housing Stabilization Grants must be submitted by December 11, 2020. 

Below is a summary of the program. 

Q. What grants are available? Who is eligible?

A. The program will be available to two groups:

Group A, to be administered by the DC Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA), will include housing providers in the District’s portfolio of affordable housing projects (including those affordable housing owners with 20 or fewer units), financed by the Housing Production Trust Fund, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, or other local and federal affordable housing funds.

Group B, to be administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), will include small housing providers with 20 or fewer units not in the District’s portfolio of affordable housing projects.

Q. What type of relief is being offered?

A. Rent arrears from April 1, 2020, through November 30, 2020, will be paid by the District to housing providers in an 80/20 split, with the District contributing 80% of the rent up to $2,000 per unit per month, and the housing provider forgiving the balance of the rent.

 

Group A

Group B

Administration

DCHFA

DHCD

Eligibility

Units in city portfolio of affordable housing projects (i.e., projects financed by HPTF, LIHTC, HOME, CDBG, or other funds)

Units owned by landlords with ownership interests in 20 or fewer units in the District (not in the city’s portfolio of affordable housing projects)

Unit Rent Limits

$2,500 a month or less

No limit

Arrears Assistance

80% of rent, up to $2,000 a month

Same

Housing Provider Contribution

Housing provider forgiveness of all rent arrears dating back to April 1, 2020

Same

Restrictions

Can't be receiving other forms of rental assistance for units seeking back rent, only for units occupied on April 1, 2020, and continuously until November 30, 2020, by the same tenant

Same


Q.
How can I apply? What documentation is needed?

A. Applications opened on December 1, 2020, and closed on December 11, 2020.

Group A housing providers (with units in the District’s portfolio of affordable housing projects, including those affordable housing owners with 20 or fewer units) should visit the DC Housing Finance Agency’s website for additional information on the application process. Questions about the Group A application should be directed to DCHFA by emailing hsg@dchfa.org or by calling 833-201-9989.

Group B housing providers (with ownership interests in 20 or fewer units that are not in the District’s portfolio of affordable housing projects) may submit an online application. Questions about the Group B application should be directed to the Department of Housing and Community Development at SHPP.DHCD@dc.gov.

Documentation needed to apply for both Groups A and B:

  • Basic business license
  • Completed W-9 form
  • Schedule E from 2019 federal tax statement
  • Form D-30 from 2019 DC tax statement
  • 2020 rent roll (a list of tenants or co-op members and their monthly rent or co-op carrying costs)
  • Evidence that the applicant owns each unit being applied for or that it is part of your co‑op (if the applicant is not the owner, provide signed authorization to receive funds on the owner’s behalf)
  • Clean Hands certificate within last 90 days, if available. Otherwise, the applicant can request a certificate and submit it once the application is approved.

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This alert is a periodic publication of Ballard Spahr LLP and is intended to notify recipients of new developments in the law. It should not be construed as legal advice or legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances. The contents are intended for general informational purposes only, and you are urged to consult your own attorney concerning your situation and specific legal questions you have.

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