Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a historic investment, totaling over $3.5 million, in improving access to affordable housing in metropolitan Washington, as part of the Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) grant program. Last November, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) applied for funding through the program on behalf of nine local jurisdictions: the District of Columbia; and in Virginia, the City of Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, and Prince William County; and in Maryland, Montgomery County, Prince George's County, and the City of Gaithersburg.

COG has long supported efforts of its member jurisdictions to increase the production of affordable housing and ensure access to opportunity in metropolitan Washington. With this funding, COG and its member jurisdictions will be able to build on bold actions the region has undertaken to address systemic barriers to production and equitable access to affordable housing. Last year, COG partnered with area jurisdictions to develop the Regional Fair Housing Plan, the first time in 25 years that local jurisdictions have worked together to create a joint plan for metropolitan Washington. 

Leaders in metropolitan Washington recognize the region’s insufficient supply of affordable housing as the most persistent obstacle to housing equity. Efforts to address affordability, including zoning reform and increased housing production, are key to reversing long-standing patterns of racial segregation in communities. Through a holistic approach, the region aims to improve housing equity by focusing on strategies to increase the production, geographical diversity, and equitable access to affordable housing.

Funding through the PRO Housing program provides an immense opportunity to accelerate implementation of these strategies, particularly through addressing local land use restrictions. The program achieves to aim four goals:

• An increase in the amount of land developable for multifamily housing;
• A much higher level of housing production;
• An end to the net loss of existing affordable housing; and
• Improvements on scores of regional segregation

COG was pleased to receive strong support of its PRO Housing application from the region’s congressional delegation, comprised of members representing the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.

“The National Capital Region, like localities across the country, faces very real housing challenges. So, it is critical that we do all we can to break down the barriers to affordable housing,” shared U.S. Representative Gerry Connolly. “These funds will go a long way toward increasing the amount of affordable housing in our region, particularly in areas that have historically excluded it. I am so proud to have supported COG in their application for this funding, and am prouder still to see it come to fruition.”

“This is excellent news. At a fundamental level, the amount of housing, and the cost of housing, is a major factor in attracting and retaining people to our region. The PRO grant also has the right focus on using our land efficiently to build multi-family housing. This is how we avoid skyrocketing housing costs, displacement, and maintain the cultural diversity of our region. All around, this is a big win for our region – my thanks to the Council of Governments for their work in securing the funding,” said Charles Allen, COG Board Chair and District of Columbia Councilmember.

Phyllis Randall, COG Board member and Chair of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, also reacted to HUD’s announcement, stating "When meeting with the three leading credit rating agencies to re-affirm Loudoun County's Triple-AAA bond rating earlier this year, I was surprised to learn that they have begun to consider whether localities are growing – not simply sustaining – their population. Funds provided by the H.U.D. PRO Housing Grant Program will help localities across the nation increase their production of affordable housing and I am pleased that nine of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) jurisdictions will receive a portion of this historic investment.”

MORE: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Press Release