Low-income renters with housing vouchers can again get help covering security deposits after the DC Housing Authority reopened a program that had been frozen since January.

DCHA announced Monday, Aug. 10 that it lifted the suspension on its Security Deposit Assistance program effective Aug. 7. The program covers up to one month's contract rent and pays the deposit directly to the landlord.

The catch: there's no fixed end date. The program stays open only until the money runs out, and DCHA has not disclosed how much funding is available this round.

Why it was frozen

DCHA suspended the program on Jan. 10 after exhausting its allocated security deposit budgets for both the federal Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) and local voucher programs. Applications submitted after the Jan. 10 suspension were not processed.

The seven-month gap left voucher holders scrambling to cover deposits on their own in one of the country's most expensive rental markets. The agency serves roughly 30,000 families across the District.

How to apply

Voucher participants must request the Security Deposit Assistance form from their assigned DCHA Housing Specialist. Prospective landlords then submit the completed form along with a Request for Tenancy Approval packet.

DCHA will not begin processing applications until the unit has been approved for tenancy, the lease is executed and the Housing Assistance Payment contract is signed. The deposit payment and first monthly housing payment go out to the landlord at the same time.

To qualify, the landlord must be renting to a voucher participant and must be in compliance on all existing HAP contracts with DCHA.

Broader housing picture

The resumption comes as the District faces a tight voucher pipeline. Councilmember Janeese Lewis George said on X on June 9 that the DC Council's fiscal year 2027 budget funds 442 new housing vouchers plus 243 turnover vouchers. But as of May, there was no money left in the city's budget to fund new vouchers until the fiscal year resets in October, the Washington City Paper reported.

What's next

The DCHA Board of Commissioners meets virtually Sept. 9 at 1 p.m. Residents and landlords can register to speak online no later than 24 hours before the meeting. For questions about the program, DCHA's call center is 202-535-1000, and the voucher services office is at 702 H St. NW.