How we treat our most vulnerable communities is a measure of how well the District is doing. As chair of the Council’s Human Services Committee for six years, I spearheaded legislation and pushed for funding to ensure a path to safe and affordable housing for every District resident, including through my amendment to the Homes and Hearts Act in 2021, which made more than 2,400 housing vouchers available, enough to end homelessness in the District.

Far too many of our residents struggle with excessive housing costs and displacement. Unless we preserve and build new affordable housing, the District’s growth will come at the expense of pushing out low-income families and people of color, particularly the communities that have made Ward 1 so vibrant and resilient.