| For Immediate Release November 5, 2003 |
Contacts: | Kate Fried 202-223-2598 ext 19 kfried@dcagenda.org |
| ELECTRONIC MEDIA PACKET AVAILABLE FROM: www.policylink.org/DC-Media.html PHOTOGRAPHS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST |
Allison Conyers 202-547-2500 aconyers@acorn.org |
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ADVOCATES UNITE TO URGE CITY OFFICIALS TO SUPPORT POLICY TO EASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE DISTRICT
Washington, DC: Adopting a mandatory inclusionary zoning policy will help ease the affordable housing crisis in the District of Columbia by requiring developers to reserve a designated percentage of units in new housing developments for low- and moderate-income residents, while offering incentives and flexibility for developers. One-quarter, or 55, 578 households in the District of Columbia currently pay more than 35% of their income on housing costs.
Efforts to attract 100,000 new residents to the District by Mayor Anthony Williams should be supplemented by a mandatory inclusionary zoning policy (IZ) to increase the supply of affordable housing in the District of Columbia. Without such a policy, the influx of new residents threatens to displace existing low and moderate income residents who have long called the District of Columbia their home.
The Campaign for a Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning Policy in the District of Columbia has reached five targets in a campaign that will continue over the next several months. Campaign committee members have:
Commissioned a report, Expanding Housing Opportunity in DC: The Case for Inclusionary Zoning , from PolicyLink, the national nonprofit organization with expertise in affordable housing and equitable development. The report examines existing inclusionary zoning ordinances across the country to find best practices and demonstrates the difference that such an approach would make in DC.
Compiled a set of core components, based on recommendations from the PolicyLink report, to guide the development of a successful IZ policy for the District.
Collected 2,600 postcards signed by District residents urging the adoption of mandatory inclusionary zoning.
Conducted a community forum that attracted 150 residents who supported the call for mandatory inclusionary zoning. Held at the Frank D. Reeves Center, on Tuesday, October 28, the forum featured presentations by representatives of labor, housing, and policy groups.
Convened a press conference in front of the Wilson Building on Wednesday morning, October 29 to announce the campaign to the media and general public, and to engage the support of politicians, policymakers, and the community.
Presented Mayor Anthony Williams with a letter and other documents urging him to adopt a mandatory inclusionary zoning policy.
Members of the coalition's campaign committee are: Will Ward, head organizer, Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN); Robert Pohlman, executive director, Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development (CNHED); John H. Mc Koy, president and CEO, DC Agenda; Joslyn Williams, president, Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO; and Linda Leaks, director, Washington Inner-city Self Help (WISH).
Community residents at the forum spoke of their frustrations in finding affordable housing in the District and of being priced out of communities where they and their families have lived—often for several generations—but can no longer afford. Roger Newell, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, told the audience members that they represented the people who had stayed in the city during bad times but are "in danger of being pushed out now that times are better." But, he told the audience to loud applause: "We have a right to be here."
Council members Jim Graham, from Ward 1, and Adrian Fenty, from Ward 4, were also present. Graham noted that inclusionary zoning addresses the price of housing as well as its location. With inclusionary zoning, he said, "we would no longer have all the poor people in certain buildings in certain parts of town; inclusionary zoning offers a vision of how we can live in the future, how we can live in harmony." Fenty spoke of being "intrigued by the whole inclusionary zoning approach," saying it “will energize the affordable housing market and make a difference."
At the press conference, Joslyn Williams, of the Metropolitan Labor Council, AFL-CIO, cited research that shows a DC family needs to earn $85,000 to buy the average home in the District and $72,000 to afford the average rental. Yet the median income is $52,300. "Our members," he said, "are having an increasingly difficult time finding housing...and have to travel further and further out in the region to find safe, affordable housing. These are firefighters, teachers, janitors, administrative and clerical employees, police officers, and other workers who provide key services to the nation's capital, yet can't afford to live here."
Radhika Fox , co-author of Expanding Housing Opportunity in Washington, DC: The Case for Inclusionary Zoning , summarized the report's key findings saying that "IZ is an important strategy for making affordable housing available to low- and moderate-income residents while still allowing developers to profit." According to Fox, IZ results in "a double bottom line, realizing the social benefit of more affordable housing along with economic benefit to the District and developers."
Over the next several months the Campaign for a Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning Policy in the District of Columbia will continue its efforts to deliver affordable housing to DC residents. Its ultimate goal will be to encourage the DC Zoning Commission to accept a text amendment to adopt a mandatory inclusionary zoning policy for DC.
For more information on inclusionary zoning or to download a copy of the report please www.policylink.org . Hard copies can be obtained from info@policylink.org
ACORN is the nation's largest community organization of low- and moderate-income families, with over 150,000 member families organized into 700 neighborhood chapters in 60 cities across the country. Since 1970, ACORN has taken action and won victories on issues of concern to its members. Its priorities include: better housing for first time homebuyers and tenants, living wages for low-wage workers, more investment in our communities from banks and governments, and better public schools. It achieves these goals by building community organizations that have the power to win changes—through direct action, negotiation, legislation, and voter participation.
DC Agenda is a nonprofit civic organization that brings together diverse groups of leaders to address complex urban problems in Washington, DC. It focuses on improving the lives of youth and families in underserved neighborhoods. Since 1994, DC Agenda has worked to improve the quality of life for all in the District of Columbia.
PolicyLink is a national nonprofit research, communications, capacity building, and advocacy organization dedicated to advancing policies to achieve economic and social equity based on the wisdom, voice, and experience of local constituencies. PolicyLink bridges the traditional divides between communities and the world of policymakers by lifting up what works®.