Testimony: Roundtable on Raising the Standard for DC Housing
Children’s Law Center Policy Attorney Patrick Cothern testified before the DC Council at the Committee on Housing Roundtable “From Neglect to Respect: Raising the Standard for DC Housing.”
Each year, Children’s Law Center works with thousands of families living in rental housing with poor conditions, mold, hazardous lead-based paint, and lack of heat that cause and exacerbate children’s asthma and other health concerns; and lead to more emergency room visits, missed school for children, and missed work for parents.
Our testimony urges the Council to act to better protect tenants, to bring trust and credibility to the enforcement process, to hold landlords accountable, and to improve the quality of the District’s housing stock.
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.