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Union and housing groups back adding transit workers to employer housing assistance
Summary
Supporters including the union and GCAR argued adding WMATA transit employees to EHAP would help retain transit staff and encourage homeownership in D.C.; DHCD suggested a two‑year pilot and cautioned the council to evaluate budget and counseling capacity.
Committee members heard testimony in support of B26‑698, which would make employees who operate or maintain publicly owned transit systems in D.C. eligible for the Employer Assisted Housing Program (EHAP). Brian, testifying for transit workers, framed the proposal in workforce terms: "The Home Purchase Assistance for Transit Workers Amendment Act of 2025 would help WMATA's transit workers live in the city that they help move every day. It's really that simple." (Brian)
Supporters said extending EHAP could improve recruitment and retention for jobs requiring specialized skills and licenses. Brian and union witnesses argued that pairing EHAP with the District's Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP) makes a practical path to homeownership, and that program rules already guard against misuse by requiring primary residence commitments and service periods.
DHCD's Daryl Brantley said agencies support expanding access for public‑serving employees but urged safeguards: define "public transit employee" precisely and consider a two‑year pilot to assess demand and budgetary effects. Brantley also noted EHAP/HPAP usage patterns — EHAP/HPAP applicants numbered in the low hundreds and DHCD has reprogrammed excess EHAP funds into HPAP in recent years to meet closings — and flagged the need to coordinate counseling and potential cost‑sharing with WMATA.
The committee did not take further action and asked agency staff to provide more granular budget and utilization figures; members signaled openness to a pilot structure and cost‑sharing conversations with WMATA.
