7604.1 Preferences Generally. Applicants are eligible to request and upon verification receive priority in selection for rental assistance if they qualify for certain general and limited preference categories as set forth more fully in this Section

7604.2 Selection. Except for Special Admissions as provided for in Subsection 7603 of this Chapter, or the requirements of Income Targeting as set forth in Subsection 7602 of this Chapter, applicants shall be selected from DCHA HCVP and Moderate Rehabilitation Waiting Lists in accordance with preferences set forth in this Subsection 7604. Applications equal in preference under each category in Subsection 7604.3 will be maintained by date and time of application, and preferences for categories under Subsection 7604.4 will be granted to the extent of the voucher allocation limits specified for the category and by date and time within those limits.

7604.3 General Local Preferences. The local preferences in their order of priority are as follows:

(a) Substandard Housing. The substandard preference is divided into three major ranking factors as further defined at Subsection 7605 and is implemented in the following priority order.

(i) Homeless, as set forth in subsection 7605.1 of this Chapter;

(ii) Applicants residing in units that have been declared unfit for habitation as set forth in 7605.2(g) of this Chapter; and

(iii) Applicants currently residing in units which contain one or more Housing Quality Standard or local housing code violations as set forth in 7605.2(a-f).

(b) Involuntarily Displaced, as defined herein at Subsection 7605.3; and

(c) Rent Burdened, as defined herein at Subsection 7605.4

7604.4 Limited Local Preferences. Preferences in this subsection receive priority to the extent of the voucher allocation authorized by the Board of Commissioners:

(a) Enhancing the Supply of Affordable Housing. Applicants are included under this preference if the Family is an occupant of a property that has been financially assisted and identified as such to DCHA by the District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency or the

District of Columbia Department of Housing and Community Development under a grant, loan, tax credit or other form of financial aid program that assists in the preservation or expansion of the supply of affordable housing in the District of Columbia. The aggregate number of outstanding vouchers authorized for use is set by the Board of Commissioners from time to time.

(b) Improving the Quality of Affordable Housing Applicants are included under this preference if the Family is an occupant of a unit in a designated property that the District of Columbia government has identified to DCHA as targeted for condemnation due to an inability to meet District of Columbia housing codes. The aggregate number of outstanding vouchers authorized for use is set by the Board of Commissioners from time to time.

(c) Special Needs Housing - Applicants are included under this preference if an applicant has been referred to DCHA by the Deputy Mayor's Office for Child and Family Services, including the DC Department of Mental Health, DC Office on Aging, or the DC Department of Health in order to aid the District of Columbia in meeting the goal of affordable housing for special needs housing groups in its Consolidated Plan. The number of units authorized for HCVP assistance under this provision is governed by approved public housing redevelopment or revitalization plans with allocations approved by the Board of Commissioners from time to time in connection with project-based Partnership Programs as set forth at Chapter 93 of this Title 14.

(d) Preference for Fair Housing Promotion - Applicants are included under this preference if an applicant is part of an underserved and linguistically-isolated population and has been referred to DCHA by the Office of the Mayor of the District of Columbia in order to aid the District of Columbia in meeting the goal of Fair Housing Promotion in its Consolidated Plan. Up to 100 vouchers are authorized for use for this purpose.

(e) Witness Relocation: Applicants included under this preference are those recommended by the DCHA Office of Public Safety. Up to 50 vouchers per year are authorized for use for this purpose.

(f) Permanent Supportive Housing-Applicants are included under this preference if an applicant is referred to DCHA by an agency of the District of Columbia government as an individual or family in need of permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless individuals and families with histories of homelessness. Up to Four Hundred and Forty-Seven (447) vouchers are authorized for this

purpose. Twenty-Six (26) of the Four Hundred and Forty-Seven (447) vouchers allocated to this permanent supportive housing limited local preference were reallocated from the condemnation voucher preference set forth in 14 DCMR § 7604.4(b). To the extent any of such Twenty-Six (26) vouchers are not issued and actually used by an applicant for housing under this permanent supportive housing limited local preference by January 31, 2013, any of such unused vouchers shall be reallocated to the condemnation voucher limited local preference under subsection 7604.4(b).

(g) Long Term Care Housing - Applicants are included under this preference if an applicant is referred to DCHA by an agency of the District of Columbia government as a person in need of housing with added wrap-around health care and in-home and community based services. The applicants are either people with disabilities or the elderly and desire to maintain their independent living. Up to Sixty-Five (65) vouchers are authorized for this purpose.

SOURCE: Emergency and Proposed Rulemaking published at 52 DCR 11120 (August 20, 2004); as amended by Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 1153 (February 17, 2006); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 55 DCR 9328 (August 29, 2008); as amended by Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 59 DCR 1597 (February 24, 2012).