Q&A: D.C. Housing Stabilization Grants

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.

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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