Washington, D.C. — This morning, I learned that residents and housing advocates, some of whom are directly impacted by homelessness, held a sleep-in at my office to voice their concerns and call for greater investment in critical housing programs. I hear them. I see them. I thank them for showing up. And I want them to know I remain firmly committed to the fight for deeply affordable housing, tenant protections, and the right for every Washingtonian to live with dignity.

No one should have to sleep on the floor of a government building to be seen or heard. But their presence this morning is a testament to the urgency of this housing crisis and the depth of community pain. That urgency is why, while the action was taking place, I was at the DC Landlord Tenant Court, where our neighbors face eviction, gathering firsthand insight into the very system we are trying to reform. I have long fought to make DC a city where everyone has a safe, affordable place to call home. In last year’s FY24 budget, I secured $6.7 million for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), $1.5 million to expand street outreach to unhoused residents, providing food, water, blankets, and connections to medical care, mental health services, and housing, and added $20 million to the Housing Production Trust Fund along with $4.5 million for the Housing Preservation Fund. Stable housing is deeply personal to me, not just policy. Before I came of age to buy my first home with my wife, I experienced the kind of instability that makes it hard to dream, to plan, or to feel safe. That’s why I fight so hard to make sure every resident has the foundation of a home. These kinds of commitments I will continue to make in the current budget cycle.

Let me be clear: I have not and will not turn my back on our community. I have consistently fought to strengthen Emergency Rental Assistance (ERAP), preserve affordable housing, expand public housing repairs, and uphold the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA). I also hear and respect the concerns raised about TOPA. I believe deeply in its mission, to give tenants the first opportunity to purchase their homes when buildings are sold. TOPA is one of our strongest tools to prevent displacement and support long-term affordability. But in a housing ecosystem as strained and unequal as ours, when a program is not working as intended, we must be willing to reform it to ensure it protects the people it was created for. As we move through the final phases of this year’s budget, I remain in active discussions with my colleagues and with advocates to identify the revenue needed to protect and expand these lifelines. We considered the proposal to shift certain housing cases to the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH), but after serious reflection and listening to community voices, it became clear that this change would not work. I’m not afraid to say when something isn’t the right solution. This is exactly why I engage residents, advocates, and experts early and often, because the best policy comes from listening to the people it will impact most. This morning, I heard advocates were upset about the RENTAL Act moving through the Budget Support Act. I want to be clear: we are pulling the RENTAL Act from the BSA, and I have proposed amendments to ensure no one is left behind in our pursuit to strengthen the housing ecosystem.

The people who showed up today care deeply about this city. So do I. Their advocacy makes our government better. I will continue to work toward a just and equitable budget that reflects our shared values and I invite them to stay engaged as we fight for a city where no one is left behind.