WASHINGTON — The rush to keep thousands of D.C. residents in their homes continued Tuesday as the DC Council passed emergency legislation to extend rental protection for thousands of families.
The legislation was set to expire on Wednesday but advocates said if the law is not backed by funding from the mayor's office, thousands of families may still find themselves on the streets.
DC's Department of Human Services operates the Rapid Rehousing program meant to give formerly unhoused families a path to stability and a permanent roof over their heads. Here's how it works: The city subsidizes your rent for 12 months. After that, you're expected to pay your own rent. But so many families tell WUSA9 that even with two jobs, they still can't afford a decent place to live here in D.C. Now, according to advocates 2,200 families are nearing the end of the program's 12 months and have nowhere to go.
On Tuesday, the council passed an emergency bill sponsored by Councilmember At-Large Robert White that allows folks to apply to stay in the Rapid Rehousing program for another six months. Here's the catch: that extension can only happen if the Department of Human Services has the money to do so. WUSA9 reached out to Mayor Bowser's office and DHS and we are still waiting to hear back.
In the meantime, the city is looking at long-term fixes. The Council's version of the budget passed in June and includes 600 new vouchers for next year.
Additionally, WUSA9 has learned Wednesday, that the DC Housing Authority board is voting on a plan that would make 1,300 federal housing vouchers available for those families exiting out of rapid rehousing.
While vouchers could be the answer to putting people in homes, advocates fear those subsidies may not come fast enough for the families whose Rapid Rehousing is running out.
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