New Communities: Right to Return
CLARIFYING RIGHT TO RETURN TO NCI DEVELOPMENTS
In March 2016 the DC Housing Authority Board passed Resolution 16-06 to set a relocation and right to return policy for properties redeveloped under NCI. The policy sought to clarify questions about who has a right to return, and establish guidance ensuring that residents who are eligible to live in public housing will also be eligible for units in the new developments without additional barriers to entry.
WHO HAS A RIGHT TO RETURN?
- You have a have right to return to a new NCI unit:
- At Barry Farm if you lived at Barry Farm at any time on or after October 12, 2012.
- At Park Morton if you lived at Park Morton at any time on or after November 1, 2014.
- At Northwest One if you lived at Temple Courts or Golden Rule when they were demolished.
- (The right to return date has yet to be determined for Lincoln Heights/Richardson Dwellings since the master developer has not been selected and no portion of the onsite has been demolished.)
- You have a right to return to a unit that fits your family size, which will be determined by who is on your lease at the time of return.
- Residents and other community stakeholders will decide through community processes in each neighborhood which households will be offered units first, second, and so on in the new developments.
HOW LONG DOES YOUR RIGHT TO RETURN LAST?
- Your right to return lasts until you move into a new NCI unit. After that, any moves would be treated like any other transfer within public housing and subject to availability.
- All projects will be redeveloped in phases, and you do not lose your right to return if you are offered a unit in an early phase and you do not take it.
- You keep your right to return until all units in all phases are built.
WHAT IS THE CRITERIA FOR RETURNING?
Criteria to return to a new unit has to be the same or less than DCHA’s current rules for the following:
- Work Requirements – DCHA has no work requirements.
- Service Requirements – DCHA requires 8 hours per month of community service or 8 hours participation in an economic self-sufficiency program. Residents who are elderly, disabled, caretaker of an elderly/disabled resident, or working are exempt.
- Criminal Background – DCHA does not accept applicants with 1) a felony conviction within the last 5 years; 2) a conviction for manufacturing methamphetamines; and/or 3) current requirement to register on the National Sex Offender Registry. DCHA may make exceptions for felony convictions on a case by case basis.
- Credit Screening – DCHA has no minimum credit score to meet, but does review applicants’ past rental history.
- Drug Screening – DCHA has no drug screening requirements.
The new property manager of the redeveloped units must also follow these guidelines.
WHEN WILL DCHA NOTIFY ME ABOUT MOVING?
DCHA will provide proper notices for any temporary and permanent moves, including but not limited to:
- A General Information Notice (GIN) to inform you when the redevelopment will require you to move from your unit.
- A Notice of Relocation Eligibility, which will inform you what relocation assistance you will receive; and
- A 90-Day Notice to Move, which will tell you the earliest date you have to move from your current unit.
Although households may be offered the opportunity to move to “Build First” units coming online in their neighborhood, no one will be required to move (as a result of a redevelopment effort) until their property receives official HUD approvals for redevelopment.