On Tuesday, July 10th, Councilmember Tommy Wells introduced the “Affordable Housing Clearinghouse Directory Act of 2007.” This legislation would create a Clearinghouse Directory to be maintained by the Mayor that requires development projects receiving public funds and assistance - whether through tax abatement, tax increment financing, direct appropriation, or other means - to file quarterly reports with key information about the affordable housing units they are creating. It also includes an opt-in provision for those developments that are not utilizing public funds, but that want to participate in the Directory.

“One of the frustrations I hear from constituents in Ward 6, and across the city, is that with all the development projects taking place in different corners of the District, residents don’t have one central place where they can find information about the affordable housing units coming online,” commented Mr. Wells. “As we are faced with the increased demand for affordable options, we are all challenged to find ways to connect families in need with the options available to them.”

The Affordable Housing Clearinghouse Directory would become a resource for District residents to learn where and when affordable units will be created, in addition to income qualifications (such as whether the unit is available for households at a certain level of Area Median Income), type of housing, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and contact information. The legislation also calls for this Directory to be maintained online, but also have print copies made available at several public and agency offices across the city to ensure that everyone has access to this critical information.

“Our shared commitment to create more affordable housing in Washington, DC will fall short if we don’t make sure that the people and families looking for these options can’t find them,” added Mr. Wells.

Councilmembers Marion Barry, Chair of the Committee on Housing and Urban Affairs, and Kwame Brown, Chair of the Committee on Economic Development, joined Mr. Wells in co-introducing the measure. 

Click Here for the press release.