Originally delivered on April 30, 2026
Chairperson Frumin and members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify today. My name is Mychal Cohen, and I am the senior housing policy analyst at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (DCFPI). DCFPI is a non-profit organization that shapes racially-just tax, budget, and policy decisions by centering Black and brown communities in our research and analysis, community partnerships, and advocacy efforts to advance an antiracist, equitable future.
Many DC households are facing housing instability and the programs meant to keep them stable are failing. The numbers of District residents paying substantial amounts of their income in rent is unacceptably high and that burden falls disproportionately on Black and brown residents. From 2019 to 2023, more than 1 in 4 Black renters (29.9 percent) and 1 in 5 Hispanic renters (20.1 percent) were extremely rent burdened, meaning they paid more than 50 percent of their income in rent.[1] These high rates of rent burden are contributing to the rise in evictions in the District. Analysis by New America found that completed evictions—1,933 in fiscal year (FY) 2025— surpassed pre-pandemic levels, and eviction filings, while not at pre-pandemic levels, have risen since the eviction moratorium of 2020.[2],[3]
The $7 million proposed FY 2027 budget for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) represents a 20 percent cut from FY 2026, which itself was a 70 percent cut from FY 2025. ERAP provides funding for households who are behind on their rent and are at risk of eviction. Underfunding ERAP will result in more families facing the extreme trauma of eviction and homelessness. ERAP funding also must be considered in the context of flat funding in other housing programs that serve the most vulnerable households. The FY 2027 budget includes no new housing vouchers for families or individuals, no new permanent supportive housing, and no additional DC Flex slots. Council inaction on housing supports for households with low incomes will have dire consequences for housing stability in the District.
The FY 2027 Budget Fails to Meet the Housing Needs of DC Residents With Low Incomes
Yearly cuts to funding for emergency rental assistance have accompanied yearly increases in completed evictions. Mayor Bowser initially proposed a $5 million budget in FY 2026 and the Council allocated an additional $3.6 million.[4] But recognizing the inadequacy of this budget, the Council added a provision that directed $2.95 million of FY 2025 revenue growth to the program. The proposed FY 2026 supplemental budget redistributes those funds away from ERAP, leaving the original $8.6 million in the current ERAP budget. This funding, while inadequate to meet the need, prevented eviction for 747 households in FY 2026.[5] We know that the need for these emergency funds is much greater. Even at its height of $60.2 million in FY 2024, ERAP funding has been significantly less than the need, which the Urban Institute estimated at $76-108 million in 2024.[6]
The FY 2027 budget funds ERAP at its lowest level in a decade.[7] While the District is facing budget challenges due to federal intervention, increasing costs, and declining revenues, ignoring the need for rental assistance will only lead to more evictions and their accompanying harms. Evictions have been shown to increase short-term and long-term housing instability, drive negative mental health outcomes, and negatively impact financial health and credit.[8] The rise in evictions and homelessness will create other costs within our housing system while contributing to distress and displacement of residents who experience these traumas.
DHS’s Poor Implementation of ERAP Has Harmed Vulnerable Residents and Limits ERAP’s Effectiveness
DC Council must hold the Department of Human Services (DHS) accountable for ERAP implementation. The Council should require that the agency meaningfully engage with the community and reduce application barriers. In 2025, without any substantial community input, DHS shifted to an in-person process for scheduling ERAP appointments that left residents standing for hours in the cold and hindered access for residents unable to show up in person.[9] They claimed that this change was in part to “better manage limited program funding, but the budget for administration increased from 10 percent of the total budget in FY 2025 to 15 percent in FY 2026.”[10] While DHS has confirmed that they will not repeat this process in FY 2027, additional oversight is required to control the administrative costs of the program. These high administrative costs will only further limit the actual funding available to families in need.
The “Emergency Rental Assistance Reform Amendment Act of 2025” became law in July 2025, but DHS has not released formal rulemaking for how it should be implemented.[11] Without formal regulations, ERAP providers are left to interpret the law on their own. This has led to discrepancies between providers in how they interpret requirements for documentation and acceptable emergencies. This process increases confusion and uncertainty among applicants. As DHS develops its formal regulations, it should be proactive about seeking input from residents who have used the program and the providers that help administer it.
ERAP can and should be a critical part of the District’s response to housing instability. Residents, advocates, providers, and DHS all have the same goal of ensuring stability and security for District households. With better data, open communication, clear and accessible guidelines, and funding sufficient to meet the need, DC can craft a well-function housing safety net for families at risk of eviction.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify, and I am happy to answer any questions.
