6301.1 Section 6301 describes the DCHA policies to distribute and make applications available (electronically and otherwise) and accept applications. Section 6301 also describes DCHA's obligation to ensure the accessibility of the application process.

6301.2 Any family that wishes to reside in public housing must apply for admission to the public housing program. DCHA will include Form HUD-92006, Supplement to Application for Federally Assisted Housing, as part of DCHA's application.

6301.3 DCHA shall use a two-step application process;

(a) Under the two-step application process, DCHA initially shall require families to provide only the information needed to determine the family's placement on the waiting list (as listed in 6302.1). As described in 6302, DCHA will maintain site-based waiting lists (SBWL) and thus will require that, at application, families select up to five (5) sites/properties where they would like to be added to the waiting list;

(b) Families may request assistance in completing their application from DCHA. Upon request, DCHA may provide this assistance in-person or by phone;

(c) Completed applications must be returned to DCHA by portal (available on DCHA's website). Upon request, DCHA may permit an applicant to submit their application in person at DCHA's office.; and

(d) Applications must be filled out completely in order to be accepted by DCHA for processing.

6301.4 DCHA will take a variety of steps to ensure that the application process is accessible to those people who might have difficulty complying with the standard application process as noted in § 6301.3(b).

6301.5 DCHA will provide reasonable accommodation as needed for persons with disabilities to make the application process fully accessible. The application process will be fully accessible. Chapter 61 provides DCHA's policies related to providing reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities and to advertise widely to diverse communities.

6301.6 Chapter 61 provides DCHA's policies related to ensuring access to people with LEP. The application process will comply with the requirements set forth in Chapter 61 and in DCHA's LAP.

6301.7 [RESERVED]

6301.8 No applicant has a right or entitlement to be listed on the waiting list, or to any particular position on the waiting list.

6301.9 DCHA uses a pre-application to place families on the site-based waiting list(s) for the sites/properties that the family has selected. A pre-application is a short form application used to gather only the information necessary to place the applicant on the appropriate waiting list.

6301.10 DCHA shall send written notification via email acknowledging receipt of the application. Applicants shall be placed on a site-based waiting list.

6301.11 If a site-based waiting list is opened for a finite period, DCHA will use a random selection method to select and place applicants on the waiting list; DCHA may limit the number of applicants selected to be placed on the waiting list if the number of applications received exceeds the number of anticipated vacancies. If a site-based waiting list is continuously open, applicants will be placed on the waiting list according to the date and time they submitted their application.

6301.12 DCHA shall assign families on the waiting list according to the bedroom size for which a family qualifies as established in its occupancy standards.

6301.13 Families may request to be placed on the waiting list for a unit size smaller than designated by the occupancy guidelines (if the unit is not overcrowded according to DCHA standards and local codes). However, in these cases, the family must agree not to request a transfer for two (2) years after admission, unless they have a change in family size or composition.

6301.14 Placement on the waiting list does not indicate that the family is, in fact, eligible for admission. When the family is selected from the waiting list, DCHA shall determine eligibility and suitability for admission to the program.

SOURCE: Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 33 DCR 7973, 8012 (December 26, 1986); as amended by: Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 35 DCR 4014 (May 27, 1988); Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 39 DCR 2291, 2292 (April 3, 1992); and Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 49 DCR 2455 (March 15, 2002); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 73 DCR 007351 (May 15, 2026).