Posts by Elizabeth Falcon — Contributor
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DC has a program to help first-timers buy a house, and it may start giving more aid
DC has a program for helping people buy houses, but the money it awards doesn’t line up with how much houses in the city actually cost. The program might start awarding more money soon. Keep reading…
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Cooperative housing thrives in DC
DC has a rich history of housing cooperatives, in which each resident owns a share of the entire property, not just their unit. While relatively unknown, there are at least 120 co-ops in DC, many of which are a great source of stable, affordable housing. In a cooperative, each resident owns a share in the corporation that owns their property, entitling them to reside in a specific… Keep reading…
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Will DC’s future include the poor?
Sunday’s Washington Post Magazine asks the question, “What kind of city does DC want to be?” Unfortunately, it doesn’t get at a core issue that is determining what kind of city the District is: the question of who is able to live and flourish there. Through a series of articles, the magazine considers the issues surrounding how DC is built, connected,… Keep reading…
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Task force sets goal of 10,000 affordable units
Over the last two years the issue of affordable housing has been raised in many forums, but with little action. Mayor Gray recently committed $100 million for affordable housing; now, the Comprehensive Housing Strategy Task Force has issued its report on the District’s housing direction. The first two of the report’s three goals focus on affordable housing. They… Keep reading…
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At rally, leaders promise action on affordable housing
Over 300 people rallied for affordable housing this weekend with the Housing for All Campaign. The packed house drew Mayor Gray and Councilmembers Muriel Bowser and Jack Evans, all of whom were unified in their commitment to stem the tide of displacement in the District. Evans said, “We need to make sure the people who were here in the difficult times get to stay for the good… Keep reading…
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Amid change, affordable housing revitalizes parts of Ward 5
As development along Rhode Island Avenue and New York Avenue take shape over the next few years, much of DC’s Ward 5 will see major changes. But can these changes draw new residents without displacing existing ones? A key element will be to preserve and expand the availability of affordable housing. In recent weeks there have been new stories about development along Rhode… Keep reading…
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Don’t let affordable housing become a victim of speeding
It doesn’t seem like there would be a connection between the amount of affordable housing DC builds, and the cost of a speeding ticket. But those two things might become directly connected this winter. Last week, the DC Fiscal Policy Institute revealed that the Gray administration plans to pay for lower fines with $25 million in “unexpected revenue,” the… Keep reading…
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Housing Task Force begins to set goals
As the Comprehensive Housing Strategy Task Force moves towards a conclusion, task force members and the public are beginning to focus on measurable solutions to affordable housing need. Task force members met Wednesday morning and laid out a timeline for having recommendations ready for Mayor Gray by mid-January. Harry Sewell, co-chair of the task force, called on members… Keep reading…
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Passionate testimony fills 4-hour Housing Task Force hearing
Individual tenants and representatives of large organizations alike spoke about their experiences with District housing policy at a hearing on Monday. Those testifying overwhelmingly reflected the need for more affordable housing. Many spoke about the Housing Production Trust Fund, which is successful but starved for money, and the Housing First program to combat homelessness. The… Keep reading…
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Ward 8’s Parklands a model for neighborhood revitalization
As the federal government returns control of St. Elizabeths East and Walter Reed to the DC government, the District has an opportunity to re-envision those neighborhoods. The Parklands in Ward 8, a neighborhood that has seen dramatic improvement over the last 2 decades, offers a successful model of equitable development. The Parklands succeeded with a combination of a for-profit… Keep reading…