DC Department of Housing and Community Development
The DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is a District of Columbia government agency that administers affordable housing and community development programs serving DC renters, first-time homebuyers, housing providers, developers, and small businesses through federal HUD grants and local Housing Production Trust Fund capital.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What DC Department of Housing and Community Development does
The DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is a District of Columbia government agency under the executive branch led by Mayor Muriel Bowser, headquartered at 1909 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, Washington, DC. The agency administers the District's affordable housing and community development portfolio, serving District residents who rent, first-time homebuyers, housing providers, developers, and small businesses through seventeen-plus core programs including the Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP, up to $202,000 in interest-free loans), Inclusionary Zoning (IZ), Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA), District Opportunity to Purchase Act (DOPA), rent control via RentRegistry, and the Housing Production Trust Fund (HPTF).
DHCD's technology stack consists of government administrative systems rather than a unified software product: RentRegistry (online rent control filing portal, transitioned to fully electronic on June 2, 2025), Filenet (Housing Regulation Administration records search via IBM Content Navigator mobile app), and a Portfolio and Asset Management Database that tracks over 8,000 loans across affordable rental and homeownership properties. The agency maintains a centralized Housing Resource Center and distributes services through a network of Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) plus partnerships with DCHFA, DCHA, DHS, DSLBD, CNHED, and the Greater Washington Urban League.
DHCD's revenue model is government funding rather than commercial sales. The agency receives approximately $135 million annually through federal HUD formula grants (CDBG $13.7M, HOME $3.7M, HTF $3M, plus pass-through HOPWA $11.17M and ESG $1.2M) and a $100 million local allocation to the Housing Production Trust Fund. Programs are delivered as grants, deferred loans, and subsidies rather than priced services, with leadership under Director Colleen Green, Deputy Director Chris Earley, General Counsel Michael Spencer, and Rent Administrator Lauren Pair.
DC Department of Housing and Community Development firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DC Department of Housing and Community Development
- Legal name
- Department of Housing and Community Development
- Website
- https://dhcd.dc.gov
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- The DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is a District of Columbia government agency that administers affordable housing and community development programs serving DC renters, first-time homebuyers, housing providers, developers, and small businesses through federal HUD grants and local Housing Production Trust Fund capital.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DC Department of Housing and Community Development industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Government Housing and Community Development
- NAICS
- Administration of Housing Programs (925110), Administration of Housing Programs (92511), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925)
- SIC
- Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing) (BPAIANAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ), Housing Benefits & Rent Subsidy Administration (BPAIAKAG)
Keywords
Where DC Department of Housing and Community Development is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
DC Department of Housing and Community Development business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Others, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Housing Production Trust Fund: Locally funded trust fund that provides financing for affordable housing development. Mayor Bowser allocated $100 million in her budget for the HPTF.
- Federal HUD Funding: DHCD receives substantial funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) including Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds ($13.7 million annually), HOME Investment Partnerships Program ($3.7 million annually), and National Housing Trust Fund ($3 million annually) for affordable housing and community development activities.
- Program Fees and Interest: Revenue generated through loan servicing fees, interest on loans, and various program fees associated with housing programs such as TOPA filings, condo/co-op conversions, and rent control registrations.
- HPAP Loan Program: Home Purchase Assistance Program provides interest-free loans up to $202,000 for down payment and closing costs to qualified first-time homebuyers. Loans are subordinate to private first trust mortgages.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | HPAP Maximum Assistance: $202,000 gap financing + $4,000 closing costs |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Small Housing Provider Grant: $65,000 per unit, max $400,000 per project |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Small Property Loan Program: max $1,000,000 per project, $65,000 per unit |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | RAAP (Residential Accessory Apartments Program): $1.65 million pilot funding for 5 ADUs |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
DC Department of Housing and Community Development product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DHCD is a District of Columbia government agency that administers affordable housing and community development programs. It manages rental housing regulations including rent control, provides down payment and closing cost assistance to first-time homebuyers, preserves affordable housing through TOPA and DOPA, funds affordable housing development through federal HUD grants and the Housing Production Trust Fund, and delivers housing counseling and small business technical assistance through a network of Community-Based Organizations.
Product overview
The DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is a government agency providing affordable housing and community development programs to District residents. Rather than a unified software product, DHCD operates a portfolio of distinct government programs including: the Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) Affordable Housing Program requiring developers to set aside affordable units; Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP) providing interest-free loans up to $202,000 for first-time homebuyers; Housing Counseling Services through Community Based Organizations; the Housing Resource Center serving as the District's central housing hub; Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) and District Opportunity to Purchase Act (DOPA) enabling purchase of rental buildings; the Property Acquisition and Disposition Division (PADD) transforming vacant properties; Rent Control administration through the RentRegistry portal; Development Finance programs including Housing Production Trust Fund and Low Income Housing Tax Credit oversight; and the Small Building Program offering grants and loans for multifamily property rehabilitation. These programs work together through various divisions (Rental Accommodations Division, Portfolio and Asset Management, Development Finance Division) to fulfill DHCD's mission of preserving and increasing quality affordable housing, increasing homeownership opportunities, and revitalizing neighborhoods.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- DHCD: Department of Housing and Community Development - the primary operating name for the DC government agency
- Housing Resource Center (HRC)
- RentRegistry
- Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP)
- Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) Program
- TOPA - Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act
- DOPA - District Opportunity to Purchase Act
Products and services
- Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) Affordable Housing Program
- Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP)
- Rent Control / RentRegistry
- Homeownership Programs
- Housing Counseling Services
- Housing Resource Center (HRC)
- Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) Assistance
- District Opportunity to Purchase Act (DOPA)
- Residential Accessory Apartment Program (RAAP)
- Development and Finance Division Programs
- Property Acquisition and Disposition Division (PADD)
- Portfolio and Asset Management Division (PAMD)
- Small Building Program
- Filenet Rent Control Records Search
- Heirs Property Assistance Program
- Safe and Healthy Homes
- Conversion and Sales Division (CASD)
- Small Business Technical Assistance (SBTA)
Quantifiable outcome
- 7,700 affordable housing units preserved through 69 selected projects in 2024
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use DC Department of Housing and Community Development
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
DC Department of Housing and Community Development technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
DC Department of Housing and Community Development partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- DC Affordable Law Firm (DCALF)coreDCALF administers the Heirs Property Assistance Program along with Legal Counsel for the Elderly, providing eligible heirs with access to legal representation and technical assistance for navigating probate matters.
- Legal Counsel for the Elderly (LCE)coreLCE co-administers the Heirs Property Assistance Program with DCALF, providing legal representation and technical assistance for low-income households and individuals with claims to residential real estate with unclear legal title.
- The Roz CompanycoreSelected through a Request for Applications to administer the Residential Accessory Apartments Program (RAAP), a pilot program for creation of accessory dwelling units with approximately $1.65 million in funding.
- Central American Resource Center (CARECEN)coreDHCD partnered with CARECEN through HUD's Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) to bring greater awareness of fair housing laws to the Hispanic community. CARECEN provides education, employment, immigration, housing counseling, and legal advocacy to the Salvadorian and Latino community in the District.
- Boat People S.O.S (BPSOS)coreDHCD partnered with BPSOS through FHIP to serve the Vietnamese community. BPSOS provides counseling in various domestic, social, and professional aspects of daily living to Vietnamese refugees and immigrants.
- Greater Washington Urban LeaguecoreAdministers the Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP) as a program administrator, assisting eligible applicants with the home purchase process and issuing Notices to Proceed.
- DC Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA)coreServes as HPAP program administrator, working with Greater Washington Urban League to assist applicants and issue Notices to Proceed for home purchases.
- DC Government CBOs NetworkcoreNetwork of Community-Based Organizations funded by DHCD to provide homeownership and rental opportunities, affordable housing search, emergency/transitional housing intake, and public housing services.
- DCHousingSearch.orgcoreFREE listing service partnered with DHCD to provide easy access to information about affordable housing opportunities within the District of Columbia.
- Housing Counseling CBOscoreDHCD-funded CBOs provide counseling services and training to tenants, potential homeowners, and current homeowners including foreclosure prevention, credit counseling, and homebuyer education.
- DHS Intake Centers & HotlinecoreDepartment of Human Services intake centers provide emergency and transitional housing referrals through the Housing Resource Center network.
- DCHA Service CenterscoreDC Housing Authority service centers provide rental opportunities and public housing information integrated with DHCD's Housing Resource Center services.
- DC Office of the Tenant Advocate (OTA)coreOTA provides temporary shelter and protection of tenant rights services integrated with DHCD housing programs and the Housing Resource Center.
- Coalition for Nonprofit Housing & Economic Development (CNHED)corePartnership with CNHED for small business technical assistance programs and community development coordination.
- Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD)corePartnership with DSLBD for small business assistance programs and coordination on technical assistance services.
- Great Streets InitiativeminorCross-agency partnership for economic development along designated commercial corridors supporting small business growth.
- Small Business Administration (SBA)minorFederal partnership providing small business resources and support through DHCD's small business technical assistance programs.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
DC Department of Housing and Community Development competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development: New York City's municipal housing agency administering affordable housing development, preservation, and tenant protection programs. Most directly comparable to DHCD given similar municipal-level scope, mixed rental/ownership programs, and tenant protection mandates.
- Philadelphia Department of Housing and Community Development: Philadelphia's municipal housing and community development agency with virtually identical naming, mission, and program structure to DHCD, including affordable housing preservation, homeownership assistance, and community development block grant administration.
- San Francisco Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development: San Francisco's municipal housing and community development agency administering affordable housing production, down payment assistance, and tenant protections in a high-cost urban market — closely analogous to DHCD's DC operating context.
- Chicago Department of Housing: Chicago's municipal housing department administering affordable housing programs, rental assistance, and homeownership support. Comparable in scale and program mix to DHCD's portfolio of housing assistance and community development services.
- Los Angeles Housing Department: LA's municipal housing agency administering rent stabilization, affordable housing development, and tenant protections in a large urban jurisdiction. Closely parallels DHCD's rent control (RentRegistry), preservation, and development financing functions.
- DC Housing Authority (DCHA): DC's sister public housing agency operating federal public housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs. Works in direct partnership with DHCD and serves overlapping DC resident populations with complementary housing assistance programs.
Regional players
- Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development: Maryland's state-level housing and community development agency with comparable affordable housing financing, homeownership assistance, and community development programs. Serves a broader geography rather than a single municipality.
- Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development: Virginia's state-level housing agency administering affordable housing, community development block grants, and homelessness programs across the Commonwealth. Comparable program structure to DHCD at state rather than municipal level.
- Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development: Massachusetts' state-level housing and community development agency operating affordable housing programs at scale. Comparable to DHCD in terms of multi-program housing portfolio but operates across a state rather than single city.
Broad incumbents
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): The federal housing agency that funds DHCD's CDBG, HOME, ESG, HOPWA, and HTF programs. Operates as the broader incumbent in the same space, providing the formula grant capital that DHCD deploys at the municipal level.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
DC Department of Housing and Community Development social profiles
Digital presenceDC Department of Housing and Community Development financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DC Department of Housing and Community Development leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
DC Department of Housing and Community Development funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DC Department of Housing and Community Development M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about DC Department of Housing and Community Development
What does DC Department of Housing and Community Development do?
DHCD is a District of Columbia government agency that administers affordable housing and community development programs. It manages rental housing regulations including rent control, provides down payment and closing cost assistance to first-time homebuyers, preserves affordable housing through TOPA and DOPA, funds affordable housing development through federal HUD grants and the Housing Production Trust Fund, and delivers housing counseling and small business technical assistance through a network of Community-Based Organizations.
Is DC Department of Housing and Community Development a public or private company?
DC Department of Housing and Community Development is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was DC Department of Housing and Community Development founded?
DC Department of Housing and Community Development was founded in -1.
Where is DC Department of Housing and Community Development based?
DC Department of Housing and Community Development is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does DC Department of Housing and Community Development make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Housing Production Trust Fund is the primary driver. The others are federal HUD Funding, program Fees and Interest and HPAP Loan Program.
Who are DC Department of Housing and Community Development's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development, Philadelphia Department of Housing and Community Development, San Francisco Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development, Chicago Department of Housing, Los Angeles Housing Department and DC Housing Authority (DCHA). Regional players are Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development and Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does DC Department of Housing and Community Development have an API?
No public API is recorded for DC Department of Housing and Community Development.
What industry is DC Department of Housing and Community Development in?
DC Department of Housing and Community Development's product category is Government Housing and Community Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIANAA, Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing), with a secondary code of BPAIACAJ, Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs). Its NAICS code is 925110 and its SIC code is 7340.