B 24-0402 — Emergency Rental Assistance Reform Temporary Amendment Act of 2021

ENGROSSEDENROLLED ORIGINAL AAN BILLACT 3___________ 24-402 5 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 7 ____________ 9 To amend, on ana temporary basis, the Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005 to reform the Emergency Rental Assistance Program to aid tenants in their recovery from the public health emergency,emergency and to reduce administrative barriers to Emergency Rental Assistance Program payments for tenants in need.

ENGROSSED ORIGINAL “(a)(1) To qualify for emergency rental assistance funds made available pursuant to this section (“Emergency Rental Assistance Funds”), an applicant unit shall be required to meet only the following eligibility criteria:

ENROLLED ORIGINAL “(2) To qualify for Emergency Rental Assistance Funds, an applicant unit may be required to document or otherwise establish the following, but no other documentation or proof shall be required:

and “(E) Facts and circumstances surrounding rental arrearages, security or damage deposit, or first month’s rent, including that the applicant unit is responsible for ENGROSSED ORIGINAL payment.

“(i) The applicant unit lives with 6 or more individuals and ENGROSSED ORIGINAL reasonable alternatives to the existing housing arrangement are not available;

ENROLLED ORIGINAL “(B) During a public health emergency and for 180 days after its conclusion, an arrearage paid with Emergency Rental Assistance Funds may be for as many months of rent as the total number of months that the public health emergency has been in effect pursuant to section 5a of the District of Columbia Public Emergency Act of 1980, effective October 17, 2002 (D.C.

or ENGROSSED ORIGINAL “(B) Enter into a longer-term repayment plan for the payment of the remaining balance of unpaid rent.

ENGROSSED ORIGINAL “(B) The maximum emergency assistance payment for first month’s rent under this paragraph shall not exceed the actual amount of one month’s unsubsidized rent, as specified by the landlord.

“(d) To the extent not explicitly superseded by the provisions of this act, the Emergency Rental Assistance Program rules (29 DCMR § 7500 et seq.) shall remain in effect until ENROLLED ORIGINAL superseded by rules promulgated by the Mayor pursuant to the authority of this act.

“(4) “Living in the District of Columbia” means that an individual is maintaining ENGROSSED ORIGINAL a home in the District as his or her principal residence or, if he or she is homeless, that he or she is physically present in the District and not a resident of another state.”.

______________________________ Chairman Council of the District of Columbia _________________________________ Mayor District of Columbia 4