Section 10-A512. H-3.1 ENCOURAGING HOME OWNERSHIP

 

512.1Nationwide, about two-thirds of all households are homeowners. In the District of Columbia, the 2000 census reported the home ownership rate was just 41 percent. This is one of the lowest rates in the country, well below Philadelphia (59 percent), Baltimore (50 percent), and Chicago (44 percent)- though higher than the 30 percent rate in New York and the 32 percent rate in Boston. The ownership rate in the District has increased 6 percentage points since 1980, when 35 percent of the city’s households were homeowners. 512.1

 

512.2The District’s Department of Housing and Community Development administers a number of programs to help residents purchase homes. These include the Homestead Housing Preservation Program, which enables firsttime buyers to purchase tax delinquent properties for as little as $250. It also includes the Home Purchase Assistance Program, which offers interest-free and low-interest loans to qualified residents for the purchase of houses, condominiums, or cooperative apartments. The District also provides grants and deferred loans to government employees who are first time homebuyers. These programs are an important part of the city’s efforts to provide “workforce” housing for its residents (see text box). 512.2

 

512.3Meeting the Need for “Workforce Housing” 512.3

 

As housing prices have outpaced income growth in many US cities, housing advocates and policy makers have called for initiatives to provide “workforce housing” for middle class residents. Workforce housing refers to housing designed for people in professions that are vital to our communities but that do not offer sufficient wages to afford market rate housing. These professions include administrative support, clerical occupations, and service jobs-and account for one third of the jobs in the American workforce.

 

Even with two working parents in the service industries, a family would have a difficult time purchasing a home or renting a suitable apartment in the District of Columbia. Janitors, school teachers, licensed nurses, police officers, child care professionals, and others service workers have been priced out of the DC market, and many other markets across the country. New programs, such as employer-assisted housing and down payment assistance for public sector employees, are being pursued to provide more options and keep these essential workers in our community.

 

512.4Policy H-3.1.1: Increasing Home Ownership

 

Enhance community stability by promoting home ownership and creating opportunities for first-time home buyers in the District. Provide loans, grants, and other District programs in order to raise the District’s home ownership rate from its year 2000 figure of 41 percent to a year 2015 figure of 44 percent. Increased opportunities for home ownership should not be provided at the expense of the District’s rental housing programs, or through the displacement of low income renters. 512.4

 

512.5Policy H-3.1.2: First-Time Buyer Income Targets

 

Structure home ownership and down payment assistance programs to benefit working families with incomes between 50 percent and 120 percent of the areawide median income. 512.5

 

512.6Action H-3.1.A: HPAP Program

 

Maintain and expand the District’s Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP) and Homestead Housing Preservation Program. 512.6

 

512.7Action H-3.1.B: District Employer Assisted Housing (EAH) Program

 

Strengthen the District government’s existing Employer Assisted Housing (EAH) program by increasing the amount of EAH awards and removing limitations on applicants seeking to combine EAH assistance with Home Purchase Assistance Program funds. 512.7

 

512.8Action H-3.1.C: New EAH Programs

 

Encourage other major employers in the city to develop Employer Assisted Housing programs, including:

 

•Private sector employee benefit packages that include grants, forgivable loans, and onsite homeownership seminars for first-time buyers

 

•Federal programs which would assist income-eligible federal workers who currently rent in the city. 512.8

 

512.9Action H-3.1.D: Individual Development Accounts

 

Invest in programs that support Individual Development Accounts that assist low-income persons to save for first-time home purchases. 512.9

 

512.10Action H-3.1.E: Neighborhood Housing Finance

 

Expand housing finance and counseling services for very low-, low-, and moderate-income homeowners, and improve the oversight and management of these services. 512.10

 

512.11Action H-3.1.F: First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit

 

Examine the feasibility of matching the Federal first-time homebuyer tax credit with a District of Columbia tax credit for homebuyers in targeted neighborhoods. 512.11

 

512.12Action H-3.1.G: Tenant Purchase Program

 

Increase assistance to tenants seeking to purchase their units. Review the effectiveness of the city’s existing Tenant Purchase program and enhance the ability of this program to provide technical, financial, legal, organizational, and language assistance to tenants in exercising their purchase rights. 512.12

 

512.13 Action H-3.1.H:  Foreclosure Prevention 

 

Develop public-private partnerships to raise awareness of foreclosure prevention efforts, and to offer assistance to households facing foreclosure.

 

authority

Pursuant to the District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; D.C. Official Code § 1-306.01 et seq.), the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital: District Elements of 2006, effective March 8, 2007 (10 DCMR A300 through A2520) (“Comprehensive Plan”).

source

Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2006, effective March 8, 2007 (D.C. Law 16-300) published at 54 DCR 924 (February 2, 2007); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2010, effective April 8, 2011 (D.C. Law 18-361) published at 58 DCR 908, 915 (February 4, 2011).

notation

The provisions of Title 10, Part A of the DCMR accessible through this web interface are codification of the District Elements of the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital. As such, they do not represent the organic provisions adopted by the Council of the District of Columbia. The official version of the District Elements only appears as a hard copy volume of Title 10, Part A published pursuant to section 9a of the District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1994, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; D.C. Official Code § 1 -301.66)) . In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions accessible through this site and the provisions contained in the published version of Title 10, Part A, the provisions contained in the published version govern. A copy of the published District Elements is available www.planning.dc.gov.