WASHINGTON, D.C. — Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau, D-Ward 1, issued the following statement following the Committee on Housing hearing on Thursday, November 20 that featured testimony from the director of the Department of Housing and Community Development.

At yesterday’s Committee on Housing hearing, I was eager to understand how and why failures are continuing to happen at the Department of Housing and Community Development. We need to ensure that the District is taking full advantage of every option at our disposal to build housing and wealth for our residents, and right now, that is not happening at DHCD.  

It’s unbelievable that the agency has spent the entire year bemoaning D.C.’s affordability crisis and pushing for the erosion of tenant rights in the name of supporting housing production, all while knowing full well that they forfeited federal tax credits that developers could have leveraged for $35 million for affordable housing.  

And just yesterday, we heard that the agency has also apparently left $1 million in home purchasing assistance for first-time home buyers on the table.  

The agency is failing to take advantage of the tools they already have in hand to address the many housing needs facing the District and our residents, and at today’s hearing, we did not receive any clarity or explanations from the Director. We cannot let this dysfunction continue if we are to ensure a path to safe and affordable housing for every District resident.