The Opportunity DC Newsletter: DC Voters Back Sweeping Housing Reforms

In this edition:

• Voters say housing costs are a “Huge Problem” in Opportunity DC's new poll of 811 registered voters

• The House is coming back next week, and needs to hear from you

• Potential reduction in Medicaid funding

• ERAP housing reform update

• Evaluating candidates for Ward 8’s special Council election

New Poll: Majority of DC Voters Strongly Support Housing Reforms

Regular readers of this newsletter know we talk a lot about housing here, and it turns out DC residents do, too. Voters responding to a recent poll conducted by Opportunity DC named housing affordability as the number-one issue for DC lawmakers to prioritize this year.

Residents agree that the solution to unaffordability is to create more housing in the District – and reduce red tape that unhelpfully inflates construction costs and rents. Nearly 3 in 4 voters believe that “DC lawmakers must modernize housing regulations to build more housing units and reduce rent over time.”

Opportunity DC calls on lawmakers to take decisive action this year to strengthen housing stability and affordability across the District:

• Make permanent recent reforms to the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) to provide long-term certainty for both housing providers and tenants. (See more on ERAP below.)

• Pass Mayor Bowser’s RENTAL Act, which received support from 62% of poll respondents. The legislation comprehensively addresses the systemic issues hindering housing production and affordability. This includes modernizing regulations such as the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) to incentivize investment and expedite transactions, and making tenants safer.

• Streamline the permitting process to facilitate faster and more efficient housing production.

Learn more about the poll’s findings and our policy recommendations here.

Urgent Action Needed: Without House Fix, DC Services Get Slashed

After getting an earful from angry constituents back home, the House of Representatives needs to hear from DC residents and business owners when they return to the Capitol next week. It is imperative that Congress fix the FY25 Continuing Resolution (CR). If they don’t, the District’s government will be forced to slash local services, including funding for teachers, firefighters, and police officers.

Senators recognized the CR’s mistake and voted to fix it – thanks in part to more than 600 emails they received from Opportunity DC’s network. Now, House Republicans must do the same. However, some Freedom Caucus Republicans want to attach harmful amendments to any CR fix. The District of Columbia needs a clean CR fix to protect funding for services that keep our city safe.

Please sign our petition and tell Congress to restore DC’s FY25 budget and funding for core services. Gutting our local budget by over $1 billion won’t save the federal government any money this year. More importantly, such unplanned cuts will harm the nation’s capital – costing jobs in public safety, education, and health care and undermining services that keep DC safe, clean, and vibrant for residents, workers, and visitors.

Add Your Name Here

Protect District Health Care from Medicaid Cuts

Another serious concern is the potential reduction of Medicaid funding for the District. House Republicans have passed a budget resolution that could significantly alter DC’s Medicaid reimbursement rate, potentially leading to a substantial loss of funds for our healthcare system.

This change could cut $1.1 billion in local DC funds and $2.1 billion of program funds to local hospitals, universities, and providers across the District every year. A reduction in the federal Medicaid match (FMAP) would lead to a 40 percent cut in funding for DC doctors, nurses, and other health professionals, potentially reducing services and endangering the well-being of District residents.

Reduced federal funding for health care in the District will require our local officials to pull money from other essential services and can deter private investment, impacting the District’s overall economic vitality. Medicaid funding also supports initiatives addressing poverty, addiction, and mental illness, and cuts in these areas could undermine public safety efforts. Furthermore, high-quality health care, supported by Medicaid, is essential for student achievement and a productive workforce.

We urge Congress to avoid damaging Medicaid cuts that will make our city less healthy, safe, and prosperous.

Ward 8 Special Election: Opportunity DC's Endorsement Process

Opportunity DC is committed to ensuring that Ward 8 residents have strong representation on the DC Council and will be conducting a thorough endorsement process in the special election. We have sent candidates questionnaires to learn where they stand on critical issues facing the District and Ward 8, and we will post their responses online. Interviews with candidates will follow to inform Opportunity DC’s endorsement.

We can definitively say now that Trayon White will not receive our endorsement. When there is credible evidence that an officeholder or candidate has broken the public trust or used their office for financial gain, as there is in White’s case, Opportunity DC will not endorse them. Elected officials must uphold the highest ethical standards to effectively serve their constituents and earn the public trust.

We believe this special election presents a real opportunity for Ward 8 to elect new leadership focused on moving the community and the District forward in a new direction.

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Stay tuned for more updates on housing reforms, the Mayor's FY26 budget, federal developments, and the Ward 8 special election.

Sincerely,

Malcom Fox

Executive Director

Opportunity DC