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Dear Neighbor,
As we close out the month, I want to give you a first look at what's included in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget that the Council voted on yesterday (now we have time to make changes and will hold a second vote on the budget in June). In response to concerning cuts that would worsen issues like homelessness and hunger, my Housing Committee and I revised the budget to prioritize long-term solutions. We secured critical funding for housing vouchers, emergency rental assistance, and community programs, while I proposed key budget reforms to root out waste and improve fiscal planning and agency performance.
Additionally, I'm glad to be able to report forward movement on my Truancy Reduction for Student Success Act, addressing student absenteeism. And I'm excited to share with you the Pets in Housing Act--a commonsense but powerful bill I introduced this month to break down barriers to affordable housing for DC renters.
Your input has been invaluable, and as we approach the next budget vote in June, I encourage you to stay engaged. Join us for upcoming hearings and community office hours to help shape our shared future.
Sincerely,
Robert
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The Council's First Vote on the Budget | |
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I began this budget cycle with major concerns about persistent issues facing District residents despite a record-high budget proposal, and the simultaneous cuts the mayor proposed across our social safety net. These cuts would worsen challenges like homelessness, displacement, and hunger, worse and force us to spend more in the long run. The mayor's reductions to emergency rental assistance, legal aid, and the Pay Equity Fund for early childhood educators, along with decisions to not fund housing vouchers, exit families from the rapid rehousing program, and increase the sales tax, would hit our most vulnerable residents the hardest. This raised serious questions for me about equity and justice, and about the efficacy and management of funds.
In response, I worked with my Housing Committee to put forward a revised budget that prioritizes residents' needs and invests in solving root problems rather than kicking the can down the road.
I also called for major budgeting reforms. We cannot be where we are today (cutting services while increasing taxes without a long-term plan) in fiscal year 2026. I proposed three reforms to better align spending with revenue growth, eliminate inefficiencies, and phase out ineffective programs:
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Requiring a financial performance review of District spending and agency operations. This would identify wasteful and duplicative spending and assess and analyze the sustainability of revenue and spending projections. It would also perform budget stress tests that measure the effects of various hypothetical economic scenarios on long-term revenue and budget estimates.
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Creating a 'Sunset Commission' that looks at each DC agency's performance and determines whether it should continue, needs to be reformed, or should be eliminated; and
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Expanding the Council Budget Office so it can function more like the Congressional Budget Office and provide analysis--not just confirming whether DC has the funds for a proposed project or program, but diving deeply into how residents will be impacted in the long-term (e.g. how many new jobs? how much additional tax revenue?). This will help ensure that the community's needs are met and that we’re using our resources in the best possible way.
I'm grateful to Chairman Mendelson for working with me to add a staff person to the Council Budget Office to begin this work. This is a good first step, but we cannot stop there. I am confident that with these budget reforms we will find at minimum $100 million that we can immediately put to use driving economic development and reinvesting in impactful programs. I will continue pushing for these reforms to be included in the budget by the Council's second vote in June.
Here are just a few of the highlights* of what the Council has found funding for in the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget:
- Funded 477 housing vouchers -- a big improvement from the mayor's budget proposal, which included zero new housing vouchers
- $26.7 million for Emergency Rental Assistance Program -- a nearly $7 million increase from the mayor's proposal
- $1 million for housing for returning citizens
- Investments in preserving affordable housing and the Housing Production Trust Fund
- Several restorations and investments in upstream solutions for our communities and families, including the early childhood educator Pay Equity Fund, the Access to Justice legal assistance program, funding for DC Futures scholarships, a Child Tax Credit, restoration of Baby Bonds and the Earned Income Tax Credit match, and smaller investments, like outreach for the Domestic Worker Employment Rights Act, scholarships to VIVA School of Dance, and more funding for the Boys and Girls Club.
- Finally, in light of my bill to expand vocational education to create job pathways and prevent crime, I'm proud to see included in the budget the requirement Councilmember McDuffie and I put forward to collect data on the effectiveness of vocational education programs.
*(you can read the full report here - Under 'Other Documents' select B25-785 FY25 LBA - PACKET.pdf)
Despite this progress, the Council's work is far from done. The Mayor's devastating budget proposal will cause severe human suffering for our lowest-income residents, and I will continue working over the coming weeks to make progress. I intend to keep working with Chairman Mendelson to assist the 2,200 families in DC's Rapid Rehousing Program who the administration intends to boot from the program in the coming weeks. I've spoken with mothers in the Rapid Rehousing Program who are working full time, doing everything that's asked of them, but still can't afford market rent. Removing these families without any real transition support or alternative housing is cruel, unjust, and wrong. I will keep fighting for these families because the Mayor's plan will undoubtedly cause more trauma, displacement, homelessness, and more spending. And while we were able to find nearly $7 million more for ERAP, we are still well below the amount budgeted this year. The work continues, and I will keep you updated.
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Watch: In this video clip I talk about what we're seeing in the housing and human services budget, and my budget reform measures. | |
Hearing on My Truancy Legislation | |
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On May 13th the Committee of the Whole held a hearing on student absenteeism and discipline. The hearing featured testimony from experts and DC agency leaders discussing bills from me, Councilmember Allen, Councilmember Parker, and the mayor to combat chronic absenteeism in DC schools. This is an urgent issue for both the future of our young people and public safety in DC. My bill, the Truancy Reduction for Student Success Act, would provide school leaders and community-based organizations with more real-time data on chronically absent students by requiring DC's Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) to publicly provide monthly truancy reports so we can intervene sooner and keep students on the right path.
This was the first of two hearings the Council will have on truancy. Residents are invited to testify and share your thoughts and experiences during the next hearing, expected in June.
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Affordable Housing for People and Their Pets:
Introducing the Pets in Housing Act
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1 in 10 DC residents lack stable housing. One barrier that so many of us have experienced, but too often flies under the radar, is pet ownership. Last week I introduced the Pets in Housing Act to cap pet rent and fees, ban breed discrimination, and ensure at least one DC shelter allows unhoused residents to stay with their pets. I'm grateful to the George Washington University Animal Welfare Project law students and the Humane Rescue Alliance for helping to craft the bill to make housing more affordable and accessible for DC renters and their animal companions. And thank you to Councilmembers Bonds, Nadeau, Trayon White, Pinto, and Lewis George for supporting this crucial housing bill! | |
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Supporting Teachers Supports Student Success | |
On May 8th I rallied with the Washington Teacher's Union and urged the Mayor's administration to move forward with a fair contract for our educators. The previous contract expired in September 2023. Teachers deserve our support, not delay tactics. | |
Upcoming Community Events | | |
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I'm committed to making myself and my team available and accessible for community members like you. I'll continue spending time in all 8 wards to meet with you in your neighborhood and hear about the concerns on your mind.
My next Community Office Hours will be in Ward 5
Thursday, June 6th, 12-2 pm
Lamond-Riggs Library
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Below are various resources that I hope will help solve issues you or your family may be facing. And if you have a specific need, my Constituent Services Director, Andre Strickland, is available to support you.
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On July 1st, the Emergency Rental Assistance Portal (ERAP) will re-open. If you plan to apply you can start pulling your application materials together now. Here's a link to the DC Department of Human Services (DHS) Frequently Asked ERAP Questions for more info on how and what to prepare.
- The application for the DC Housing Finance Agency's Todd A. Lee scholarship is now open! This scholarship is for undergraduate and graduate students who aspire to be future contributors to the field of affordable housing. Learn more and apply here. The deadline is May 31st at 5pm.
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This month DC opened a new service hub in Anacostia located at 2300 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE. The hub is open for residents to walk in for services from Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. At this service hub, residents can get help from DC agencies like the Department of Human Services, Office on Returning Citizen Affairs, DC Health, Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services, the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Mayor's Office on African American Affairs, and more.
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Earn with DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR)! DC DPR is currently hiring for hundreds of positions. Learn more and apply here.
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Did you know that DC's DPR gardens host free veggie giveaways every week? Check out available veggies and pick-up locations here.
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Upcoming "Roll-Off Days" for residents to responsibly dispose of bulk trash, debris, and electronics to E-Cycle!
- June 8th: Roll Off Day Ward 7, 10 am - 2 pm, Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy
- July 27th: Roll Off Day Ward 5, 10 am - 2 pm, North Michigan Park Recreation Center, 1333 Emerson Street NE
- September 7th: Roll Off Day Ward 6, 10 am - 2 pm, King Greenleaf Recreational Center, 201 N Street NW
- October 5th: Roll Off Day Ward 1, 10 am - 2 pm, Banneker Community Center, 2500 Georgia Ave NW
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Are you in a rent-controlled unit and you want to calculate your upcoming 2024 rent increase? For those who have increases taking effect in June, it's a little complicated. The Office of the Tenant Advocate created a rent calculator to help.
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Need to reach me or a member of my team? | |
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My office is available to you. Connect with me and my staff via phone or email. Please call my personal office at (202) 724-8174, or my committee office at (202) 727-8270, or email any of my team members in the staff directory, below.
Your feedback is incredibly valuable! If you have a moment, please take my 3-question constituent survey:
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Robert C. White, Jr. Councilmember, At-Large | Council of the District of Columbia
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