WASHINGTON, DC — The District is moving swiftly to protect thousands of affordable homes and sustain housing development amid new legal and regulatory challenges. Two emergency measures: the LIHTC Rent Control Clarification Emergency Act and the Green Housing Coordination Amendment Act, will ensure that affordable housing remains both stable and feasible during a time of heightened need. 

 A recent court ruling overturned the long-standing understanding that Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) properties are exempt from DC’s rent control laws. Without clarification, this decision could place 99 buildings, representing more than 11,000 affordable units at risk of financial strain, foreclosure, and disinvestment, threatening the stability of tenants and the District’s affordable housing future. 

 To safeguard residents and preserve the city’s affordable housing stock, Councilmember Robert White is advancing emergency legislation to reaffirm that LIHTC properties remain exempt from rent control. These properties already follow federal rent caps tied to tenants’ incomes, ensuring affordability without additional local regulation. 

“This fix is about stability and common sense,” said Councilmember Robert White. “We’re making sure that more than 11,000 affordable homes stay protected, that developers can continue to reinvest in these communities, and that residents’ rents remain affordable and predictable.” 

 Also advancing the Green Housing Coordination Amendment Act, which addresses an unintended imbalance in DC’s green building standards. Currently, District-funded affordable housing projects face stricter and costlier green building requirements than market-rate developments, driving up costs and slowing progress during a housing crisis. These requirements have increased project costs by approximately 15%, caused 30–60 day delays, and threaten project feasibility, potentially stalling the very affordable housing DC urgently needs. The legislation will temporarily allow affordable housing projects to follow the Enterprise Green Communities standards, which are sustainable yet practical, until new, equitable regulations take effect in 2027. 

 “This measure strikes the right balance,” said Councilmember Robert White. “We’re protecting the environment while making sure affordability isn’t priced out of reach. Affordable housing production can continue, and we’re still advancing our sustainability goals.” 

 This emergency measure keeps affordable housing production moving while upholding strong environmental standards, a balanced, pragmatic fix that safeguards both housing affordability and climate progress.