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Advocates and residents urge council to restore security-deposit assistance after DCHA funds run out
Summary
Advocates told the Committee on Housing that DCHA exhausted security-deposit assistance this year and asked the council to restore local funding (advocates requested $2,000,000) so voucher holders and families exiting rapid rehousing can lease up.
Advocates and residents told the Committee on Housing that the District's security-deposit assistance program has been exhausted and that its disappearance is blocking many voucher holders from moving into housing. Daniel Del Piaglia of Empower DC asked the council to restore local deposit support, urging funds "at a rate of at least $2,000,000" to match prior local disbursements and help first-time lease-ups and emergency transfers.
Several witnesses said DCHA used roughly $2,000,000 of federal-moving-to-work flexibility and about $886,000 of local funds for security deposits during the last cycle; both sources have been spent. Interim Executive Director Nicole Wycliffe confirmed DCHA used approximately $2,000,000 this year and noted that continuing the practice will compete with voucher availability because deposit support comes from the same funding pools. Advocacy groups asked the committee to consider restoring a recurring local line item to avoid repeated shortfalls and reduce returns to shelter for families who otherwise have vouchers but cannot meet upfront costs.
