People's Demands DC
People's Demands DC, a group that came together through the DC Mutual Aid Network, are developing a list of demands with the help of community members, students of all ages, organizers, advocates and activists. We want to make sure that our finalized list of demands has been shared with and supported by as many DC folks as possible, particularly Black, brown, immigrant, low-income, indigenous and native Washingtonian residents.
Join ONE DC Outreach Team
ONE DC members are continuing to make calls to our base to understand how people are being impacted by the pandemic, offer support and resources, and engage people in our ongoing organizing work. Can you help by making calls?
- You can email [email protected] to receive a list and script to make calls on your own time.
- Or you can make calls with the virtual support of others! Join us on Thursday at 6:30 PM for a special outreach orientation and work session. Email Gabrielle at [email protected] to receive video call info.
Know Your Rights
After Mayor Bowser declared a state of emergency, the D.C. Council passed several emergency laws:
- No evictions and no hearings until (at least) May 15, 2020. Landlord-Tenant Court is closed for eviction proceedings until (at least) May 15.
- Landlords can still file some eviction cases and send you notices, but the court process are all on hold.
- If your building is a tax-credit or federally-funded property, no eviction notices can be served until July 25, 2020 according to the federal CARES Act. Your landlord cannot charge late fees or other penalties during this time either.
- Late fees are prohibited for rent owed during the state of emergency. They can still charge rent.
- No rental increases are allowed that would have gone into effect during March, April, or any further month during which there is a state of emergency. Any rental increases for March or April are retroactively canceled. Rent, however, is not canceled (yet).
- Any notice a tenant has given a landlord saying that they are going to vacate the apartment is paused from the date of the start of the public emergency (March 11). Tenants do not have to vacate during the public emergency even if they had previously notified their landlord that they were doing so.
- Utility shut-offs are prohibited during the state of emergency. This includes water, electricity, and gas.
- As always, the landlord has no right to ask about your health.
- If you need someone to stay with you because you’re sick, that’s allowed. Your best protection is to give the landlord notice in writing that because of your health limitations, you need that person’s help.
If you need to speak with a lawyer about a housing issue related to the coronavirus, you can call the Legal Aid COVID-19 Tenant Hotline, call 202-851-3388
If your landlord is trying to exploit this public health crisis to raise rent, please contact the Office of the Attorney General’s special price-gouging unit. Call (855) 532-5465 or submit a complaint online
Resource Lists
- DC Tenants Union Resources
- Empower DC COVID-19 Community Resource Guide
- Legal Aid DC Tenant Hotline: 202-851-3388