D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14, § 7301
7301.1 Community service is the performance of voluntary work or duties that are a public benefit, and that serve to improve the quality of life, enhance resident self-sufficiency, or increase resident self-responsibility in the community.
7301.2 Community service is not employment and may not include political activities.
7301.3 In administering community service requirements, DCHA will comply with all District of Columbia and federal nondiscrimination and equal opportunity requirements.
7301.4 Each adult DCHA resident, who is not exempt, must:
7301.5 The required community service or self-sufficiency activity may be completed eight (8) hours each month or may be aggregated across a year. Any blocking of hours is acceptable as long as ninety-six (96) hours is completed by each annual certification of compliance.
7301.6 An “exempt individual” is an adult who:
exemption applies to anyone whose characteristics or family situation meet the welfare agency exemption criteria and can be verified; or
(f) Is a member of a family receiving assistance, benefits, or services under a state program funded under Part A of Title IV of the Social Security Act, or under any other welfare program of the state in which DCHA is located, including a state-administered welfare-to-work program (such as TANF) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and has not been found by the state or other administering entity to be in noncompliance with such program.
7301.7 DCHA considers eight (8) hours per week as the minimum number of hours needed to qualify for a work activity exemption.
7301.8 [RESERVED]
7301.9 [RESERVED]
7301.10 Eligible community service activities include, but are not limited to, work at:
performing arts;
(e) DCHA housing to improve grounds or provide gardens (so long as such work does not alter DCHA's insurance coverage); or work through resident organizations to help other residents with problems, including serving on the Resident Advisory Board; and
(f) Care for the children of other residents so a parent may volunteer.
7301.11 Community services at profit-motivated entities, volunteer work performed at homes or offices of general private citizens, and court-ordered or probation-based work are not considered eligible community service activities.
7301.12 For purposes of satisfying the community service requirement, an "economic self-sufficiency program" is defined as any program designed to encourage, assist, train, or facilitate economic independence of assisted families or to provide work for such families.
7301.13 Eligible self-sufficiency activities include, but are not limited to:
(a) Job readiness or job training;
(b) Training programs through local one-stop career centers, workforce investment boards (local entities administered through the United States Department of Labor), or other training providers;
(c) Employment counseling, work placement, or basic skills training;
(d) Education, including higher education (junior college or college), GED classes, or reading, financial, or computer literacy classes;
(e) Apprenticeships (formal or informal);
(f) English proficiency or English as a second language classes;
(g) Budgeting and credit counseling; and
(h) Any other program necessary to ready a participant to work (such as substance abuse or mental health counseling).
7301.14 As it relates to an exemption from the community service requirement, "work activities" means:
(a) Unsubsidized employment;
(b) Subsidized private sector employment;
(c) Subsidized public sector employment;
(d) Work experience (including work associated with the refurbishing of publicly assisted housing) if sufficient private sector employment is not available;
(e) On-the-job training;
(f) Job search and job readiness assistance;
(g) Community service programs;
(h) Vocational educational training (not to exceed twelve (12) months with respect to any individual);
(i) Job skills training directly related to employment;
(j) Education directly related to employment, in the case of a recipient who has not received a high school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalency; and
(k) Satisfactory attendance at secondary school or in a course of study leading to a certificate of general equivalence, in the case of a recipient who has not completed secondary school or received such a certificate.
7301.15 At lease signing and during subsequent regular reexaminations, DCHA will give each family a written description of the community service requirement, the process for claiming status as an exempt person, and the process for DCHA verification of exempt status.
7301.16 At lease signing and during subsequent regular reexaminations, DCHA will notify the family of its determination identifying the family members who are subject to the service requirement, and the family members who are exempt.
7301.17 The family must sign a certification, such as Attachment A of Notice PIH 2015-12, that they have received and read the policy and understand that if they are not exempt, failure to comply with the requirement results in nonrenewal of their lease.
7301.18 The family must also sign a certification at regular reexamination, such as
Attachment B of Notice PIH 2015-12, certifying that they understand the requirement.
7301.19 DCHA shall provide the family with a copy of the Community Service Policy at lease-up, lease renewal, when a family member is determined to be subject to the community service requirement during the lease term, and at any time upon the family's request.7301.20 The Community Service policy shall notify the family that self-certification forms are subject to review by DCHA.7301.21 At the time of reexamination, DCHA shall notify the family in writing of the family members who are subject to the community service requirement and the family members who are exempt.7301.22 If the family includes nonexempt individuals, the notice in 7301.21 shall include a list of agencies in the community that provide volunteer and/or training opportunities, as well as a documentation form on which they may record the activities they perform, and the number of hours contributed. The form also has a place for a signature by an appropriate official, who certifies to the activities and hours completed.7301.23 DCHA will review and verify family compliance with service requirements annually at least thirty (30) days before the end of the twelve (12) month lease term.7301.24 Where the lease term does not coincide with the effective date of the reexamination, DCHA shall change the effective date of the reexamination to coincide with the lease term.7301.25 In making the change in § 7301.24, DCHA ensures that the examination is conducted within twenty-four (24) months of the last reexamination.7301.26 An exempt individual is excused from the community service requirement.7301.27 At least sixty (60) days prior to regular reexamination, DCHA shall review and verify the exemption status of all adult family members.7301.28 The verification in § 7301.27 is only done on an annual basis unless the family reports a change or DCHA has reason to believe that an individual's exemption status has changed.7301.29 For individuals who are exempt because they are sixty-two (62) years of age and older, verification of exemption status is done only at the initial examination.
7301.30 Upon completion of the verification process, DCHA notifies the family of its determination.7301.31 DCHA will review resident family compliance with service requirements annually at least thirty (30) days before the end of the twelve (12) month lease term. As part of this review, DCHA must verify that any family member that is not exempt from the community service requirement has met their service obligation.7301.32 Approximately sixty (60) days prior to the end of the lease term, DCHA provides written notice requiring the family to submit documentation that all subject family members have complied with the service requirement.7301.33 The family has ten (10) business days to submit DCHA required documentation form(s) required under § 7301.32.7301.34 If the family fails to submit the required documentation within the required timeframe, or DCHA approved extension, the subject family members are considered noncompliant with community service requirements, and notices of noncompliance are issued.7301.35 If an exempt individual becomes nonexempt during the twelve (12) month lease term, it is the family's responsibility to report this change to DCHA.7301.36 Within ten (10) business days of a family reporting the change in § 7301.35, or DCHA determining such a change is necessary, DCHA provides written notice of the effective date of the requirement, a list of agencies in the community that provide volunteer or training opportunities, as well as a documentation form on which the family member may record the activities performed and number of hours contributed.7301.37 The effective date of the community service requirement is the first of the month following thirty (30) day notice.7301.38 When an adult family member becomes subject to community service, they must perform eight (8) hours of community service for the months they are subject to the requirement before the end of the lease term (anniversary date).7301.39 If a nonexempt person becomes exempt during the twelve (12) month lease term, it is the family's responsibility to report this change to DCHA. Any claim of exemption is verified by DCHA.7301.40 Within ten (10) business days of a family reporting such a change, or DCHA determining such a change is necessary, DCHA shall provide the family written
notice that the family member is no longer subject to the community service requirement, if DCHA is able to verify the exemption
7301.41 The exemption in § 7301.40 is effective immediately.
SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 73 DCR 007351 (May 15, 2026).