Like much of the nation, and perhaps more so than elsewhere, the District is facing a shortage of housing, and a shortage of affordable housing, unlike any we have seen in decades. 

The need of our residents is great, in all corners of our city.  

From the beginning of my time on the Council, ensuring dignified housing for everyone in our ward, for everyone in our District, has been at the heart of my work. 

I have advocated for more and more housing in Ward 1 and in D.C. Where there is room to build some housing, I am there to say: let’s build it. 

There’s no silver bullet to our housing crisis. This moment calls for thoughtful governing across many policy areas.  

I have prioritized reforms to our zoning and other ways to reduce zoning barriers to new construction. I introduced legislation to allow for single-entry residential buildings in a safe and considered way to create more affordable and more family-sized units.  

I’ve helped put more than 1,200 units of affordable housing in the pipeline in Ward 1. And I am proud to say that Ward 1 neighborhoods exceeded the Mayor’s 2025 housing production targets and contributed to the biggest increase in affordable housing units this side of the Anacostia River.  

And I’ve done that while remaining steadfastly committed to tenant’s rights. I am confident that we do not have to take away tenant protections codified in the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act to accelerate housing production. It’s why I introduced legislation to make common sense reforms and streamline the process, much of which was incorporated into the RENTAL Act last summer.  

The work continues. D.C. remains a viable and attractive place to develop new housing, but we must continue to address the obstacles and create pathways to housing that make financial sense to private and nonprofit developers. Two pieces of legislation I introduced and hope to see passed before the end of this year do that: the Fair Share Housing Targets Act of 2025 and the Housing Production Omnibus Amendment Act of 2026. You can read more on both bills in the Council section below.  

Excessive housing costs threaten to push out low-income families and people of color, particularly the communities that have made Ward 1 so vibrant and resilient. It will take a commitment to sustain and grow affordable housing to make sure everyone has a place to call home here in our District.