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The District's Dime

DC Takes Steps to Ensure Residents Can Access Needed Benefits

The Department of Human Services (DHS) has taken steps to make it easier to apply for benefits and to increase SNAP benefits. These steps will help our neighbors who are struggling to make ends meet buy food and other necessities.

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The Black Burden of COVID-19

Today, DC Emancipation Day, we commemorate the District’s important position as the first place where federal action freed enslaved Black people.

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COVID-19 Makes It Clear: Housing is Health Care

Every day individuals experiencing homelessness die from preventable and manageable diseases. Now, the connection between housing and healthcare is even more evident when one of the keys to staying healthy is staying at home.

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More Support Urgently Needed for DC’s Excluded Workers

Unfortunately, federal and local lawmakers excluded certain residents—including those who are undocumented or otherwise in the informal cash economy—from relief efforts that provide vital income assistance to help with bills and basic needs.

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DC Council’s Second COVID-19 Bill Would Expand Important Supports and Protections but Falls Short of Comprehensive Relief

DC Council is poised to approve a second bill to lessen the harm—physically, emotionally, and economically—that coronavirus (COVID-19) is causing residents, businesses, and communities.

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Lawmakers Should Fund Rental Payment Relief in Next COVID-19 Package

Many DC residents are jobless due to widespread efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), causing significant income loss that is threatening economic and housing stability for many.

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As Families Navigate the Pandemic, Education Officials Should Put Equity at the Forefront of Their Ongoing Response

To ensure that the District’s crisis responses promote educational equity and give students and their families the proper support they need, education leaders should consider the following

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District Unemployment Insurance Claims Spike in the Wake of COVID-19

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is wreaking havoc on the District’s economy, leading to a spike in joblessness and health and human service needs. DC’s Department of Employment Services’ (DOES) daily raw count of unemployment insurance (UI) claims have spiked by […]

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Federal Aid Package Shortchanges DC, Forces District to Rely More Heavily on Reserves

DC is receiving $495 million from the Coronavirus Relief Fund for calendar year 2020, while each of the 50 states is receiving at least $1.25 billion.

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DCFPI Welcomes Eliana Golding to Our Team!

We’re excited to introduce you to DCFPI’s new affordable housing and workforce development policy analyst, Eliana Golding!

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