FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 10, 2025
Contact: Press@MoreAffordableDC.org
Phone: (202) 744-2671
New Ballot Initiative Seeks to Freeze Rents for Two Years and Fix Flawed Affordable Housing Standards
Redefines “Affordable Housing” to Meet Actual DC Incomes, Requires More 2, 3, and 4 Bedroom Units Be Built and Creates a Trigger for Additional Rent Freezes and more!
DC Board of Elections Hearing Scheduled for Wednesday, December 3
WASHINGTON, DC — A new campaign committee of concerned DC citizens demanding a More Affordable DC announced today the filing of the DC Housing Modernization and Accessibility Act of 2026, a ballot measure designed to immediately stop rent increases and redefine what “affordable” really means in the District.
“Housing costs have risen faster than wages in D.C. for years. Our rent freeze gives immediate relief to over 200,000 renters who are struggling to stay in place,” says Proposer Salim Adofo, an elected Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in Ward 8 (8C07). “We are not just proposing a bandaid, but instead giving voters a chance to decide systemic change by also fixing how affordability is calculated. It’s wrong that presently housing assistance is based on incomes from some of the wealthiest counties in America instead of real D.C. wages.”
If passed, the initiative would implement a two-year rent freeze for all tenants across the District and create automatic rent protections during future periods of high inflation. It would also correct how the District calculates “affordable housing” by tying eligibility to 60% or less of the Area Median Income (AMI) — a measure currently inflated by the inclusion of some of the richest counties in the United States.
“Right now, so-called ‘affordable’ housing often misses the very people who need it. If the government thinks a $106,800 income is considered low for a D.C. family of four, that shows how broken the system is. Our initiative faces this problem head-on by ensuring fairness for renters and aligning affordability with actual District income levels,” says Treasurer Adam Eidinger, a renter in Ward 2 who has spearheaded numerous successful ballot initiatives in DC in recent years.
The United States Department of Housing Urban Development’s 2025 data places the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) median income at $163,900 for a family of four. That figure reflects wealth levels from counties like Fairfax, Loudoun, and Montgomery — all among America’s highest-income communities — instead of accurately representing D.C.’s true household incomes. As a result, many “affordable” homes in the District are priced beyond reach for working-class residents. The ballot initiative seeks to correct this imbalance by resetting affordability standards so that D.C.’s programs better serve residents who actually live and work in the District, while protecting renters from sudden and unsustainable cost spikes.
“As a young professional who has made D.C. my home for almost 10 years, I often ask myself how I’m ever going to be able to start a family when I’m spending nearly half of my monthly income on a small, overpriced studio apartment,” says Kris Furnish, Chairwoman of More Affordable DC, who recently proposed using the former RFK stadium site for affordable housing as part of a campaign called Homes Not Stadiums. “The lack of truly affordable two- and more- bedroom size options isn’t just an inconvenience, it’s a barrier to building a stable future. Major decisions like raising a family are indefinitely put off. It’s time for a solution and this ballot measure will make more positive change for renters than the DC government has been able to deliver with more than a decade of ‘affordable housing’ being a priority.”
Initiative Highlights
• District-wide rent freeze for two years upon enactment, halting rent increases in all residential rental units.
• Automatic future rent freezes during any 12-month period where inflation exceeds 6%.
• Updated affordability definition—housing programs refocused to serve households earning 60% or less of the inflated regional AMI, better aligning with actual D.C. incomes.
• Expanded oversight of public land use and affordability commitments to ensure transparency and long-term compliance.
Read the Legislative Text at https://moreaffordabledc.org/ballot-initiative
Path to the November General Election Ballot
Path to the November General Election Ballot
Prior to being issued the petitions, the ballot initiative must be deemed a “proper subject” by the DC Board of Elections at an upcoming public hearing scheduled for 10:30am on Wednesday, December 3, 2025. Based on the September 2025 voter rolls, the campaign must collect at least 24,835 valid signatures, with support from 5% of registered voters in at least five of the District’s eight wards, to qualify for the November 2026 general election ballot. Petitions will likely circulate beginning in late winter 2026 and will need to be submitted to the Board of Elections on Monday, July 6, 2026 in order to qualify for the general election ballot.
About More Affordable DC
More Affordable DC is a citizen-led ballot initiative campaign committee dedicated to keeping the District livable and accessible for everyone. The campaign advocates for rent stability, deeper affordability, and fairness in how the District defines and delivers affordable housing.
Follow the campaign online at www.MoreAffordableDC.org or on social media at @DCAffordability.
DC AREA MEDIAN INCOME AS OF 2025
| Family Size | ||||
| % of AMI | 1 Person | 2 Person | 3 Person | 4 Person |
| 0% | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| 10% | $11,480 | $13,420 | $15,360 | $17,210 |
| 20% | $22,960 | $26,840 | $30,720 | $34,420 |
| 30% | $34,450 | $39,350 | $44,250 | $49,150 |
| 40% | $45,920 | $52,460 | $59,040 | $63,880 |
| 50% | $57,400 | $65,600 | $73,800 | $81,950 |
| 60% | $68,880 | $78,720 | $88,560 | $98,340 |
| 70% | $80,360 | $91,840 | $103,320 | $114,730 |
| 80% | $91,840 | $104,960 | $118,080 | $131,120 |
| 90% | $103,320 | $118,080 | $132,840 | $147,510 |
| 100% (Median) | $114,800 | $131,200 | $147,600 | $163,900 |
| 110% | $126,280 | $144,320 | $162,360 | $180,290 |
| 120% | $137,760 | $157,440 | $177,120 | $196,680 |
SOURCE: Department of Housing and Urban Development FY 2025 Income Limits Documentation System
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