Asset Management & Development
Overview
The DC Housing Authority (DCHA) is committed to the preservation and expansion of affordable housing through the redevelopment, renovation, rehabilitation, and modernization of our portfolio.
Three DCHA departments work together in support of the short- and long-term health of the DCHA portfolio.
Office of Asset Management (OAM)
- Oversees all assets in DCHA’s portfolio, including conventional public housing properties and mixed-finance communities. Responsible for the oversight of the long-term health and financial viability of all agency assets.
- Defines and executes strategies that ensure budgetary and regulatory compliance and maximize financial returns to DCHA.
- Actively monitors the financial and physical health of all public housing units, including those at conventional public housing properties and mixed-finance communities.
- Ensures compliance with legal requirements, and any regulatory, contractual, and/or financial responsibilities as member of any management and ownership structures at redeveloped and repositioned properties.
- Provides strategic guidance on repositioning goals.
- Coordinates with the Development Department & other internal departments to enter into development agreements that preserve the financial interests of DCHA and deliver on the commitments made to residents.
Development Department
- Leads planning and implementation of the redevelopment, renovation, rehabilitation and modernization of DCHA-owned properties, and the creation of new affordable housing units.
- Coordinates with developers, contractors, architects and engineers on redevelopment, rehabilitation, modernization and new construction projects.
- Secures partnerships and/or private funding to support the redevelopment of public housing communities or the acquisition of land or properties within DC to create affordable housing units.
- Manages the repositioning of public housing operating subsidies, or the conversion of public housing units to voucher-subsidized units, to leverage private financing for repairs, increase funding, gain operational flexibility and support the unit’s long-term affordability.
Property Management Operations (PMO)
- Provides professional day-to-day property management service of traditional public housing communities and select mixed- finance properties.
- Schedules, performs and oversees preventative maintenance, repairs, and unit turnover.
- Leads tenant relations including collecting rent, addressing resident grievances, and conducting move-in/move-out inspections.
- Manages the public housing waitlist and screens applicants for admission to the public housing program.
- Ensures public housing residents’ compliance with HUD regulations and DCHA policy, including recertification.
Portfolio
The DCHA portfolio consists of 85 residential properties, totaling more than 8,600 units, that are located throughout the District of Columbia.
The rental communities have anywhere from 2 units to more than 300 units. Bedroom sizes throughout the portfolio range from studios up to 6-bedroom units.
The portfolio serves a diverse population of low-income individuals and families, including seniors and people with disabilities.
Traditional Public Housing
- Every unit is part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) public housing program.
- Every unit falls under the annual contributions contract (ACC) for public housing between HUD and DCHA.
- Owned and managed by DCHA.
Mixed-Finance
- DCHA has an ownership interest and/or provides operating subsidy that makes select housing units affordable for low-income residents.
- Typically managed by third-party management companies.
- Includes some units that are subsidized by a DCHA-administered affordable housing program, such as public housing (ACC), federal project-based vouchers or local project-based vouchers.
- Includes any combination of market rate units or other income-restricted units like low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC).
For more information about the properties within DCHA’s portfolio, visit the Properties page.
Repositioning Public Housing
The repositioning of public housing is a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) process that supports the preservation of affordable housing by providing more stable funding to make needed improvements to properties.
When a community’s federal subsidy is repositioned – or changed – from public housing to project-based vouchers, DCHA secures a more predictable and stable income stream that betters access to funds to address a property’s capital needs.The subsidy change is essential for DCHA to access funds to redevelop, renovate, rehabilitate and/or modernize our public housing portfolio. HUD has several paths for repositioning that DCHA may utilize:
- Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) Program
- Section 18 of the US Housing Act
- A combination of RAD and Section 18
- For more information on public housing repositioning, visit HUD’s guide.
DCHA is committed to maintaining the rights of residents before, during and after a public housing property is repositioned.
Current Redevelopment, Renovation & Modernization Projects
Barry Farm Redevelopment
A multi-phase redevelopment project to create at least 900 newly constructed affordable housing units at the site of the former Barry Farm Dwellings public housing community.
Kenilworth Courts Redevelopment
A multi-phase redevelopment project to create newly constructed affordable housing units at the site of the former Kenilworth Courts public housing community.
Park Morton Redevelopment
A multi-phase redevelopment project to create 462 newly constructed affordable housing units at the site of the former Park Morton public housing community and off-site at the former Bruce Monroe School.