Building Homes, Building Futures: D. C. 's Big Housing Boost

In 2025, the District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA) wrapped up the year with a bang. They funded two major housing projects. One is in Ward 7 and the other in Ward 8. These projects will bring 199 new affordable homes to the city. The first project is the Benning Road Metro Apartments (BRMA). It will have 109 units. The second project is Hillsdale Flats. It will have 90 units. Both projects aim to help people with low to moderate incomes. The BRMA project got $43. 7 million in tax-exempt bonds and $34. 4 million in federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity. The total cost is $88. 9 million. The developers are NRP Group and Marshall Heights Community Development Organization (MHCDO). They also got a $26 million loan from the D. C. Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). BRMA will have different types of apartments. There will be eight efficiencies, 52 one-bedrooms, 27 two-bedrooms, and 22 three-bedrooms. These units are for people earning between 30% and 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Some units are for people earning up to 30% AMI. These are called Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) units.The apartments will have nice features. They include balconies, in-unit washers/dryers, a fitness center, and a multipurpose gathering space. There will also be an outdoor playground, multiple seating areas, bicycle parking, and a green space. MHCDO will run a Resident Resource Center. It will offer educational support, financial literacy, and health and wellness programs. The Hillsdale Flats project got $47 million in tax-exempt bonds and $36. 2 million in LIHTC equity. The total cost is $98. 3 million. The developers are the Preservation of Affordable Housing and the District of Columbia Housing Authority. They also got a $12. 5 million loan from the Deputy Mayor's Office for Planning & Economic Development. Hillsdale Flats will have 90 stacked flat apartments. These include seven one-bedroom, 31 two-bedroom, 33 three-bedroom, 15 four-bedroom, and four five-bedroom units. The residents will have access to a park, a bike trail, and a community center. The center is called the G. R. O. W Center. It helps residents with economic empowerment. DCHFA helps developers with low-cost financing. This supports the construction of affordable rental housing in D. C. The agency has been around for 45 years. It has a mission to advance housing priorities in the District. It does this by providing capital for rental housing and homeownership opportunities.