6125955 Housing Authority, D.C. - Notice of Emergency and Proposed Rulemaking - Amend Chapter 61 to Establish the Allocation of Condemnation Vouchers

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY

NOTICE OF EMERGENCY AND PROPOSED RULEMAKING

 

The Board of Commissioners of the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA), pursuant to the District of Columbia Housing Authority Act of 1999, effective May 9, 2000 (D.C. Law 13-105; D.C. Official Code § 6-203 (2012 Repl. & 2016 Supp.)), hereby gives notice of the adoption, on an emergency basis, of the following amendment to Chapter 61 (Public Housing: Admission and Recertification) of Title 14 (Housing) of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (DCMR).

The purpose of the amendment is to expand the availability of vouchers to applicants residing in units declared unfit for habitation.

Per D.C. Official Code § 2-505(c), emergency rulemakings are promulgated when the action is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, welfare, or morals. There is an urgent need to adopt these emergency regulations to decrease the rate of homelessness in the District of Columbia.

These emergency regulations were adopted by the Board on July 13, 2016 and became effective immediately. They will remain in effect for up to one hundred twenty (120) days from the date of adoption, until November 10, 2016, or upon publication of a Notice of Final Rulemaking in the D.C. Register, whichever occurs first. The Board of Commissioners of DCHA also gives notice of intent to take rulemaking action to adopt these proposed regulations as final in not less than thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this notice in the D.C. Register.

Chapter 61, Public Housing: Admission and Recertification, of Title 14 DCMR, HOUSING, is amended as follows:

Section 6125, PREFERENCES FOR PLACEMENT ELIGIBILITY HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER APPLICANTS, Subsection 6125.4, is amended to read as follows:

6125.4             DCHA shall give placement priority to referrals to DCHA from the Executive Office of the Mayor or designated District of Columbia agency of households who currently reside in substandard housing and units declared unfit for habitation. The aggregate number of outstanding vouchers authorized for use is set by the Board of Commissioners from time to time.

 

 

Interested persons are encouraged to submit comments regarding this Proposed Rulemaking to DCHA’s Office of General Counsel.  Copies of this Proposed Rulemaking can be obtained at www.dcregs.gov, or by contacting Chelsea Johnson at the Office of the General Counsel, 1133 North Capitol Street, N.E., Suite 210, Washington, D.C. 20002-7599 or via telephone at [phone].  All communications on this subject matter must refer to the above referenced title and must include the phrase “Comment to Proposed Rulemaking” in the subject line.  There are two methods of submitting Public Comments:

 

1.      Submission of comments by mail:  Comments may be submitted by mail to the Office of the General Counsel, 1133 North Capitol Street, N.E., Suite 210, Washington, D.C. 20002-7549.

 

2.      Electronic Submission of comments: Comments may be submitted electronically by submitting comments to Chelsea Johnson at: [e-mail].

 

3.      No facsimile will be accepted.

 

Comments Due Date:  August 22, 2016.