Local Information for District of Columbia

Washington D.C., known as the United States capital, was named after George Washington in honor of his memory as the nation’s first president. It is formally called as the District of Columbia. The district is located in the mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. East Coast. Thus, its bordering places are Montgomery County, Maryland, to the northwest; Prince George's County, Maryland, to the east; and Arlington and Alexandria, Virginia, to the south and west.

The state of Washington D.C. is the hub for American politics and history. The district is famous for field trips and other academic excursions because it offers a peek to the country’s democratic origin. While museums showcase certain parts of history, Washington is home for memories and memoirs like monuments and memorials dedicated to great American leaders and historical figures.

Washington experiences the humid subtropical climate zone and exhibits four distinct seasons. During spring and fall, the temperature is warm. On winter days, it is chilly while summers are warm and humid. During spring, the National Cherry Blossom is celebrated in the city. Hence, its climate is like those states near water bodies; this is known as Mid-Atlantic climate.

Affordable Housing in Washington D.C.

The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) is the one that provides assistance to families that are in need of affordable homes. DCHA helps these families acquire safe, decent, and affordable housing through the three types of programs that they can apply to. The three programs are the Public Housing Program, Housing Choice Voucher Program, and the Moderate Rehabilitation Program.

It has 56 housing properties located throughout the district. These homes are for rent with reduced payments intended for families with low incomes, for senior citizens, and for persons with disabilities. Thus, DCHA also follows the Housing Choice Voucher program or the Section 8 of the federal government's major rental assistance program.

Further information about affordable housing in Washington is available online. Also, the Washington D.C. does have an updated list of these programs in all its district and these are all consolidated by the Washington D.C. Housing Authority.

Rental Assistance in Washington D.C.

Washington D.C. is one of the states that offer Section 8 vouchers for those in need of rental assistance. Section 8 vouchers, also known as Housing Choice Vouchers, is part of the federal government’s program intention to help low income families, the disabled, and the elderly to find affordable, safe, sanitary, and decent private housing. Under the program, the voucher recipient can choose any type of housing, provided that it meets the program’s requirements.

The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) facilitates the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8). Through this assistance program, the participants are given the option to choose as to which community they want to live in. After the participants are qualified, they can then receive a voucher. The participant can then find a rental unit, regardless of which privately owned property in the city they choose, as long as the chosen unit meets the standards of the Fair Market Rent (which was established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or HUD).

Learn more about rental assistance in Washington by surfing the Internet and reading online about rental assistance.