The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) has accumulated more than $2.2 million in fines for over 2,500 unresolved housing violations, according to the Department of Buildings (DOB).
Some violations have remained unaddressed since 2019, contributing to a significant backlog across DCHA's more than 8,500 public housing units.
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Keith Parsons, DOB's director of strategic enforcement, said the housing authority effectively polices itself, as DOB's legal powers are limited to issuing fines without further enforcement.
"If someone calls us up, we'll go out, we'll inspect, we will see what's broken, we'll create a [notice of infraction], and we will provide it to DCHA," Parsons said.
"They are supposed to then fix it and tell us."
He added that "there is really no 'stick,' by law," highlighting the challenges DOB faces in compelling timely repairs.
Megan Browder, director for systemic advocacy and law reform at Legal Aid DC, attributed the issue partly to the size of the housing portfolio and a lack of commitment to the agency's mission.
"I think it is partially the size of the portfolio and also a systematic disregard for their mission," Browder said.
She referenced past federal and local investigations that found DCHA out of compliance with inspection requirements and accused of endangering tenants.
Alison Burdo, a spokesperson for DCHA, stated that the agency takes steps to resolve infractions within required timeframes and provides proof to DOB, though delays in updating the public database may occur.
