A wave of frustration and fear swept through the District this week as residents lined up to testify against Mayor Muriel Bowser’s proposed $21 million cut to the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), a crucial lifeline for the city’s low-income renters. The testimony came during public hearings held by the D.C. Council, which is reviewing Bowser’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal.
The proposed cut to ERAP is part of a larger effort by the Bowser administration to balance the city’s books amid a projected $1.1 billion revenue shortfall through 2029. The mayor’s budget plan includes more than $250 million in spending reductions across various programs and departments. But for many residents and advocates, cutting housing assistance feels like a step in the wrong direction.
Residents Fear Eviction, Homelessness
Dozens of residents, many of them from low-income and working-class backgrounds, spoke emotionally about the role ERAP has played in helping them stay in their homes during periods of hardship.
“I would have been out on the street if it weren’t for ERAP,” said Maya Jenkins, a single mother of two from Ward 8. “Cutting this program isn’t just a budget decision—it’s a life-or-death decision for families like mine.”
ERAP provides one-time financial assistance to renters who are facing eviction due to nonpayment of rent. Over the years, it has become a vital support system for thousands of Washingtonians who live paycheck to paycheck.
Disproportionate Impact on Black and Hispanic Communities
Housing advocates say the proposed budget cuts would disproportionately affect D.C.’s Black and Hispanic residents—groups that are already overrepresented among the city’s low-income renters. According to the DC Fiscal Policy Institute, 69% of renters earning less than 30% of the area median income spend more than half their income on rent. These renters are considered “extremely rent-burdened,” a category that leaves little room for emergencies or financial setbacks.
“The racial impact of this proposal cannot be ignored,” said Monica Harris, a policy analyst with a local housing coalition. “We’re talking about communities that have historically been excluded from wealth-building opportunities. Cutting ERAP only deepens those disparities.”
Bowser’s Budget Trade-Offs Under Scrutiny
Criticism of the ERAP cuts intensified when they were contrasted with another high-profile item in Bowser’s budget: a $1 billion public investment to bring the Washington Commanders back to the city’s RFK Stadium site. The deal includes $500 million in public financing for stadium infrastructure, funded by redirecting taxes originally levied on D.C. businesses.
“It’s incredibly telling that we can find $1 billion for a football team but not $21 million to keep people housed,” said At-Large Councilmember Robert White. “This is not a budget that reflects our values.”
The mayor has defended her decision, arguing that the budget makes tough but necessary choices to secure the city’s financial future. In addition to the ERAP cut, the budget includes reductions in Medicaid funding, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and the D.C. Green Bank—a move aimed at saving nearly $500 million across various social programs.
In a statement earlier this month, Bowser said, “The city is facing economic realities that require us to reevaluate how we spend every dollar. Our goal is to make D.C. more resilient and business-friendly while continuing to support those most in need.”
Council Begins Budget Hearings
The D.C. Council has launched a series of budget hearings that will continue into July, with a final vote expected before the end of the month. Housing advocates are calling on councilmembers to restore ERAP funding and push back against cuts to other vital social services.
Some lawmakers have already signaled that they intend to revise Bowser’s proposal. Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne Nadeau, a vocal critic of the ERAP cuts, said, “We cannot balance the budget on the backs of the most vulnerable. We must find other ways.”
In the meantime, community groups have ramped up grassroots efforts, organizing rallies, petition drives, and neighborhood meetings to build momentum against the cuts.
