The summer is just flying by. It’s hard to believe we’re already at the end of July. It seems like a great time to share some updates from the first half of the year. Here at the Washington Housing Conservancy (WHC), the past six months have brought a mix of challenges, opportunities, and growth. Below are a few of the major highlights from the year so far.
Testimony and Advocacy on Key DC Housing Policy: Washington, DC is at a pivotal moment in confronting its housing crisis. With rents rising and affordability slipping further out of reach for many working individuals and families, the city must act with urgency to modernize outdated housing policies that are standing in the way of housing production and preservation. WHC has been engaged in policy conversations through the DC Council, Federal City Council, DCBIA, Housing& (formerly HAND), and other key partners. Our mission is rooted in ensuring that more Washingtonians can live in communities of opportunity—and we know that policy reform is essential to that vision.
Over the last few months, WHC submitted testimony to the DC Council on several pieces of legislation critical to strengthening housing stability across the District. We strongly support the proposed exemption in the RENTAL Act for the sale of buildings already covered by affordability covenants of at least 20 years—common-sense policy that eliminates unnecessary administrative burdens while preserving affordability. We also addressed the Common Sense TOPA Reform Act and WHC voiced strong support for the inclusion of the Nonprofit Workforce Housing Properties Tax Exemption Amendment Act of 2025 in the Budget Support Act—a measure that will support mission-driven nonprofits working to provide stable, affordable homes. See full testimonies here.
Finally, Kimberly Driggins, CEO of the Washington Housing Conservancy, penned an op-ed about the importance of The Mayor’s RENTAL Act legislation and TOPA reform in the Washington Business Journal last month. The article can be found online here.
Planting Trees and Adding Green Space: In 2024, WHC began a partnership with Casey Trees to enhance our outdoor spaces by planting trees at three of our apartment communities – Hamilton Manor, Huntwood Courts and Earle Manor. This Spring, over 70 volunteers and residents planted more than 60 trees at Hamilton Manor in Prince George’s County. It was a wonderful day to beautify the grounds and bring together our residents, staff, partners, and other volunteers to strengthen our community. In total, we have planted over 200 new trees in the last year. We look forward to adding more trees and green space in future.
Augmenting Social Impact Work: The Washington Housing Conservancy recently hired three new Social Impact Coordinators to implement our mission of uplifting residents with our core strategies of community building, placemaking, economic mobility, and supporting inclusive property management at each of our communities. Please welcome the newest members of the WHC team: Monica Cardenas Guzman, Shannon Marshall, and Arianna Martinez. We are excited to continue our organizational growth with the talent, knowledge, and commitment they bring to create both community and opportunity for our residents!
WHC featured in FCC’s Spring/Summer Catalyst: Federal City Council (FCC) featured WHC in its Spring/Summer edition of the Catalyst. WHC was born out of the innovative ideas and generous funding of FCC’s leadership and many of its members. The article discussed WHC double mission of preserving affordable living and cultivating inclusive communities. “By embedding intentionality into every aspect of property management and community design, WHC is seeking to transform affordable housing into a platform for prosperity.” Read the article here. Thanks to FCC for featuring WHC and our work to increase sustainability and affordability in the DMV’s rental housing market.
Housing + Mobility Lab Strategy Sessions: Later this year, the Washington Housing Conservancy will launch the Housing and Mobility Lab (Lab) in partnership with Enterprise Community Partners. The Lab will be a hub for supporting, learning from, and scaling rental housing models designed to advance upward mobility of renters through BOTH financing and operational innovations. The Lab’s goal is to forge meaningful and lasting impact for low- and moderate renters in communities across the country. Over the summer, we have convened two meetings with distinguished national thought leaders from various sectors to lend their expertise to the design of the Lab. These workshops will explore ways to advance and scale impactful housing and economic mobility models across the country. More to come on the Lab soon!
Summer is not only a season for rest and renewal, but also a chance to refocus. With half the year behind us, the path ahead is full of possibility but also challenges. Please consider making a donation to support WHC as we continue our housing affordability and impact mission across the DMV and perhaps beyond. As always, thank you for your support and engagement with WHC.
Enjoy these last weeks of summer!
Preserving housing affordability and promoting economic mobility in the DC-region
The Washington Housing Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your investment helps us expand our work. Your gift is 100% tax-deductible. EIN 83-1866109
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