WASHINGTON, D.C.—New omnibus legislation from D.C. Councilmembers Brianne K. Nadeau (D-Ward 1) and Robert White (D-At-Large) would replace the existing Housing Production Trust Fund with a more robust and modern financing mechanism and add new tools to accelerate housing production.
The new Housing Opportunity Fund would encompass five dedicated accounts, each with funding for a clear purpose: housing production, subsidy for deeply affordable housing, preservation of affordable housing, support for tenants purchasing their buildings, and District land acquisition to support housing development and affordability.
The Housing Production Omnibus Act of 2026 was co-introduced by Councilmembers Janeese Lewis George and Charles Allen.
“Far too many of our residents struggle with excessive housing costs and displacement,” Nadeau said. “With this legislation, we are making targeted, smart investments and policy adjustments to sustain and grow affordable housing. One-off fixes are not enough, and our current laws are not meeting the moment. We propose a modernized D.C. housing ecosystem that unlocks new resources and provides the flexibility needed to respond to today’s challenges.”
In addition to the new fund, the omnibus package introduces new tools to accelerate housing production. It would: allow District retirement funds to invest in local housing development, something currently prohibited by law; give District government more power to acquire land for housing in high-need areas; let the District purchase and lease land to developers or tenant groups to keep housing affordable; provide fast, flexible financing to jumpstart projects on public land; and strengthen the District’s ability to buy properties or assign rights to affordable housing developers. The legislation was developed through partnership with housing advocates, tenant organizations, and industry expertise.
“Building costs are up, and financing new projects has become harder,” White said. “DC needs new strategies to get housing built, especially affordable housing because too many residents are being priced out, and the housing crisis is real.”
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