Housing (Homelessness · Emergency Management)

This bill declares an emergency to allow the District of Columbia Department of Human Services to share client data between its Family Services and Economic Security divisions. The primary goal is to help determine if individuals receiving homeless services qualify for exemptions from new work requirements that will soon limit their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. By using existing records to proactively identify eligible people, the legislation aims to prevent them from losing food assistance due to administrative delays. Additionally, the law clarifies that this same data-sharing process could be used in the future to manage new Medicaid requirements starting in 2027.

This resolution declares an emergency to prevent a legal gap in DC's rental assistance program. It amends two laws: (1) requiring specific tenant documentation for Emergency Rental Assistance eligibility under the Homeless Services Reform Act, and (2) allowing courts to stay evictions (instead of requiring it) when tenants show pending ERA applications under the Rental Housing Act. It also mandates housing providers to reschedule evictions for approved ERA applicants and creates a defense for tenants if landlords ignore ERA application rules. This directly affects DC tenants applying for rental aid, landlords, and courts handling eviction cases.