Testimony: Housing Code Inspections and Rental Property Conditions
Children’s Law Center Policy Attorney Patrick Cothern testified before the DC Council Committee of the Whole’s Public Oversight Hearing on Housing Code Inspections and Rental Property Conditions. Our testimony identifies challenges in DC’s current housing code enforcement system and suggests that the Council continue to monitor housing conditions and code enforcement while recognizing that a systemic approach, involving agencies beyond the Department of Buildings, will be needed to remedy these systemic issues. Our testimony also urges the Council to prioritize improvements in the adjudication phase of enforcement because that is where the bottleneck is forming. Lastly, we describe the difficulties burdening the fine collection process and provide recommendations on how to better coordinate existing resources to improve collections.
It’s Time for Healthier and Safer Housing for all DC Residents
When a child lives in unhealthy housing, they are more likely to end up in the ER because their poor housing conditions trigger health issues like asthma. That’s why Children’s Law Center partners with organizations across the city to advocate for healthier housing so that all DC children have the safe housing they need to live healthy lives.