7302 DOCUMENTATION AND VERIFICATION

7302.1 DCHA will retain reasonable documentation of service requirement performance or exemption in participant files.7302.2 All family members who claim they are exempt from the community service requirement are required to sign a community service exemption certification form. DCHA provides a completed copy to the family and keeps a copy in the tenant file.7302.3 DCHA verifies that an individual is exempt from the community service requirement by following the verification hierarchy and documentation requirements in Chapter 66.7302.4 DCHA will make and notify the family in writing the final determination whether or not to grant an exemption from the community service requirement.7302.5 If a resident does not agree with DCHA's determination on the granting of an exemption, the resident can dispute the decision through DCHA's grievance procedures.7302.6 At each regularly scheduled reexamination, each nonexempt family member presents a signed standardized certification form developed by DCHA of community service and self-sufficiency activities performed over the last twelve (12) months.7302.7 If qualifying community service activities are administered by an organization other than DCHA, a family member who is required to fulfill a service requirement must submit a certification signed by the organization that has administered the qualifying activity that the family member has performed such qualifying activities. Each family member who is required to fulfill the service requirement must submit such a certification.7302.8 DCHA will not accept self-certification of qualifying community service activities.7302.9 [RESERVED]7302.10 [RESERVED]7302.11 Everyone who is subject to the community service requirement is required to record their community service or self-sufficiency activities and the number of hours contributed on the required form. The certification form also includes places for signatures and phone numbers of supervisors, instructors, and

counselors certifying to the number of hours contributed;

7302.12 Families are required to submit the documentation to DCHA at least annually or upon further request by DCHA. Documents may be submitted by mail, email, or in person.7302.13 If DCHA has reasonable cause to believe that the certification provided by the family is false or fraudulent, DCHA has the right to require additional third-party verification.7302.14 The lease specifies that it is renewed automatically for all purposes unless the family fails to comply with the community service requirement.7302.15 Violation of the service requirement is grounds for nonrenewal of the lease at the end of the twelve (12) month lease term, but not for termination of tenancy during the course of the twelve (12) month lease term.7302.16 DCHA may not evict a family due to Community Service and Self-Sufficiency Requirement (CSSR) noncompliance. However, if DCHA finds a tenant is noncompliant with CSSR, DCHA will provide written notification to the tenant of the noncompliance which must include:- (a) A brief description of the finding of non-compliance with CSSR;

- (b) A statement that DCHA shall not renew the lease at the end of the current twelve (12) month lease term unless the tenant enters into a written work- out agreement with DCHA or the family provides written assurance that is satisfactory to DCHA explaining that the tenant or other noncompliant resident no longer resides in the unit; and

- (c) The written work-out agreement must include the means through which a noncompliant family member complies with the CSSR requirement.7302.17 The notice will also state that the tenant may request a grievance hearing on DCHA's determination, in accordance with DCHA's grievance procedures, and that the tenant may exercise any available judicial remedy to seek timely redress for DCHA's nonrenewal of the lease because of DCHA's determination.7302.18 The notice of noncompliance shall be sent at least forty-five (45) days prior to the end of the lease term.7302.19 The family has ten (10) business days from the date of the notice of noncompliance to enter into a written work-out agreement to cure the noncompliance over the twelve (12) month term of the new lease, provide documentation that the

noncompliant resident no longer resides in the unit, or to request a grievance hearing.

7302.20 If the family reports that a noncompliant family member is no longer residing in the unit, the family must provide documentation that the family member has vacated the unit before DCHA agrees to continued occupancy of the family. Generally, this must be third-party documentation (such as a copy of the removed household member's new lease or utility bill in their name at a new address). However, DCHA may accept a self-certification from the head of household on a case-by-case basis when it is clear that third-party verification is unavailable.

7302.21 Documentation in § 7302.20 must consist of a certification signed by the head of household as well as evidence of the current address of the family member that previously resided with them.

7302.22 If the family does not take either corrective action required by the notice of noncompliance within the required ten (10) business day timeframe or request a grievance hearing, DCHA shall terminate tenancy in accordance with the policies in Chapter 79.

7302.23 Should a family member refuse to sign a written work-out agreement or fail to comply with the terms of the work-out agreement, DCHA will initiate termination of tenancy proceedings at the end of the current twelve (12) month lease for failure to comply with lease requirements.

7302.24 When initiating termination of tenancy proceedings, DCHA shall provide the following procedural safeguards:

(a) Adequate notice to the tenant of the grounds for terminating the tenancy and for non-renewal of the lease;

(b) Right of the tenant to be represented by counsel;

(c) Opportunity for the tenant to refute the evidence presented by DCHA, including the right to confront and cross-examine witnesses and present any affirmative legal or equitable defense which the tenant may have; and

(d) A decision on the merits.

7302.25 Notices of continued noncompliance are sent at least thirty (30) days prior to the end of the lease term and also serves as the family's termination notice.

7302.26 The notice in § 7302.25 shall meet the requirements for termination notices

described in Chapter 79.

7302.27 The family has ten (10) business days from the date of the notice of noncompliance to provide documentation that the noncompliant resident no longer resides in the unit or to request a grievance hearing.

7302.28 If the family reports that a noncompliant family member is no longer residing in the unit, the family must provide documentation that the family member has vacated the unit before DCHA agrees to continued occupancy of the family.

7302.29 The documentation in § 7302.28 must consist of a certification signed by the head of household as well as evidence of the current address of the noncompliant family member that previously resided with them.

7302.30 If the family does not provide such documentation within the required ten (10) business day timeframe or request a grievance hearing, the family's lease and tenancy automatically terminates at the end of the current lease term without further notice.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 73 DCR 007351 (May 15, 2026).