Opportunity DC Testifies in Support of Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) Reforms

Opportunity DC's Executive Director, Malcom Fox, recently testified in support of ERAP reforms to protect responsible renters and ensure the District maintains its affordable housing stock. Read his full testimony below.

Full Testimony

D.C. Council Witness Testimony

Committee on Housing

Public Hearing on B25-0994, the “Emergency Rental Assistance Reform Amendment Act of 2024″ November 15, 2024

By Malcom Fox, Executive Director, Opportunity DC

Chair White and members of the Committee:

My name is Malcom Fox, and I serve as executive director of Opportunity DC. Our coalition of DC businesses and residents believes the District of Columbia’s continued prosperity depends on a vibrant and diverse economy, equitable and effectively delivered social services, and universal public safety.

I am testifying on our coalition’s behalf to encourage this Committee and the full Council to make permanent the recent reforms to the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). The legislation passed in October was an important first step, but as you know, it was passed on an emergency basis and will expire on January 16th. Making these reforms permanent is critical to stabilizing DC’s housing market and ensuring that affordable housing remains available to those in our city who need it.

While the District has a strong track record of constructing new affordable units, maintaining existing housing has become increasingly difficult. ERAP’s constraints on property owners and judges are a major reason why. Prior to the emergency legislation’s passage in October, ERAP allowed tenants to self-certify

their need for assistance, and judges were required to issue a stay on eviction proceedings whenever an ERAP application was filed. This well-intentioned policy was designed to keep people in their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it had unintended, negative consequences.

Housing providers, including small landlords and nonprofit housing developers, report they are not collecting enough rent to cover their costs for mortgage payments and maintenance. Mayor Bowser has estimated the total amount of unpaid rent in the District at more than $100 million. As a result, some landlords have raised rents on tenants who do pay. They have deferred maintenance. Some will lose their properties to foreclosure or repossession. When DC loses affordable housing units in forced property transfers, they typically don’t come back.

Opportunity DC believes that the people most hurt by the previous ERAP program are DC residents who pay their rent and play by the rules. Without ERAP reform, costs will continue to increase for those responsible renters.

The emergency ERAP reforms passed by the Council in October addressed these issues by:

● Reinstating the income verification process

● Giving judges discretion over whether to issue a stay on eviction proceedings

These changes are a good start and are already having a positive impact. However, without permanent reform, DC’s affordable housing market is at risk of collapse.

Opportunity DC urges the Council to act swiftly to make these commonsense reforms permanent.

Thank you for holding this hearing today.