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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                              

April 1, 2026
Contact: Press@MoreAffordableDC.org
Phone: 202-744-2671

More Affordable DC Applauds DCBOE Vote Confirming Initiative as Proper Subject Matter

Supplementary Advisory Opinion from DC Attorney General Finds No Constitutional Concerns

WASHINGTON, DC — The ballot initiative campaign committee More Affordable DC today welcomed the decision by the District of Columbia Board of Elections (DCBOE) to approve the campaign’s third draft of the DC Housing Modernization and Accessibility Act of 2026 as “proper subject matter” for a District of Columbia ballot initiative. The initiative will soon become formally known as Initiative 88.

At the March monthly meeting of the DCBOE, the Board chose to delay their subject matter determination vote and seek supplementary advisory opinions from the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia (OAG) and the Office of the General Counsel of the District Council (OGC). Over the last month, opponents of the initiative attempted and failed to make persuasive legal arguments concerning the initiative’s constitutionality. The OAG reviewed the opponents arguments and concluded that the proposed measure raises no constitutional concerns. The OAG’s determination and the DCBOE’s vote today clears a critical legal threshold and allows the initiative to move forward in the ballot qualification process.

“There’s been lots of surprise twists and turns getting here, but I appreciate the due diligence of the Board and I’m excited and ready to help the people of DC save money and stay rooted. Let’s go!” said Salim Adofo, Ward 8 Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner and proposer of the initiative.

Adofo emphasized that the initiative power is a central component of the District’s Home Rule framework, enabling residents to directly shape policy when legislative solutions fall short.

“With this decision, District voters are one step closer to having their voices heard on an issue that affects tens of thousands of renters,” Adofo added.

Kris Furnish, chairwoman of the campaign and a Ward 3 voter, said the ruling represents meaningful progress for residents struggling with rising housing costs.

“As a renter, I’m relieved to see this initiative move forward after a thorough legal review,” Furnish said. “This proposal would offer real, immediate stability to people across the city who are facing relentless rent increases. Today’s decision gives voters the opportunity to weigh in on a policy that could make a real difference in our lives.”

Next Steps in the Process

With the proper subject matter determination secured, the DCBOE will proceed with the formulation and adoption of the initiative’s short title, summary statement, and legislative text at next month’s meeting on May 6. Once finalized, the campaign will likely begin circulating petitions on Wednesday, June 3.

To qualify for placement on the November 2026 general election ballot, the campaign must collect signatures from at least 5% of registered District voters citywide, including 5% in five of the District’s eight wards, by Monday, July 6. However, due to the delays related to the proper subject matter determination, the campaign expects to utilize all 180 days to circulate ballot access petitions and would be placed on the next District-wide election.

More Affordable DC is a citizen-led initiative committee focused on stabilizing rents, modernizing housing policy, and expanding access to affordable housing in the District. For more information, and to try out the campaign’s Rent Freeze Calculator, visit www.MoreAffordableDC.org.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                              

March 5, 2026
Contact: Press@MoreAffordableDC.org
Phone: 202-744-2671

More Affordable DC Campaign Stunned By DCBOE’s Vote to Delay “Proper Subject Matter” Determination

Campaign Launches Calculator Showing Renter’s Potential Savings Under Proposed Rent Freeze

WASHINGTON, DC — The ballot initiative campaign committee More Affordable DC expressed deep disappointment after the District of Columbia Board of Elections (DCBOE) declined to vote on whether the campaign’s third draft of the DC Housing Modernization and Accessibility Act of 2026 constitutes “proper subject matter” for a District ballot initiative yesterday at their monthly meeting.

The Board’s decision to delay their crucial vote comes despite existing District laws and regulations that clearly establish the timeline for advisory review. Under DC law, the Board may request advisory opinions from the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia (OAG) and the Office of the General Counsel of the Council of the District of Columbia (OGC) within 15 days of the original request. The law does not explicitly authorize multiple or successive advisory opinion requests before making a subject matter determination.

On January 16, the campaign withdraw its second draft and submitted a revised third version the same day, incorporating feedback from prior advisory opinions issued in November and December 2025. In advance of yesterday’s hearing, both the OAG and OGC had already agreed that the third revision satisfied subject-matter requirements under District law. The updated draft clarified statutory language, refined implementation mechanisms, and addressed concerns related to subject-matter limitations, including avoiding direct appropriations and ensuring consistency with the Council’s budget authority. Section 2, which deals with the proposed Rent Freeze, has not been substantially changed since October 30, so the decision to not make the proper subject matter determination based on this section is entirely unwarranted.

Despite this, the Board declined to proceed with a vote and is seeking additional advisory opinions.

“This is our third submission — and as they say, third time’s a charm,” said Salim Adofo, Ward 8 Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner and proposer of the initiative. “We followed the law. We incorporated the advisory guidance from two previous submissions. Both reviewing offices agreed the measure is proper subject matter. The ballot initiative statute does not call for endless advisory opinion cycles before a determination is made. District voters deserve a decision — not delay.”

Adofo emphasized that the initiative process is a core component of the District’s Home Rule framework, designed to give residents a direct voice in policymaking when legislative action stalls.

“The initiative power belongs to the people,” Adofo added. “The Board’s role at this stage is limited and clearly defined. By declining to vote, the process is being slowed in a way that the law does not contemplate. We remain committed to doing this the right way — but we also expect the rules to be followed.”

The DCBOE has decided they will make a closed-door decision after they have received additional advisory opinions and without any implicit deadline. The campaign believes the determination will be publicly announced at the next DCBOE monthly meeting on Wednesday, April 1. Without a proper subject matter determination, the initiative cannot yet proceed to the next phase, which involves the formulation of the ballot initiative’s short title and summary statement, which now will likely take place in May.

“As a DC voter and renter, I’m stunned that the Board of Elections chose not to vote after all the work that has gone into making this initiative fully compliant with the law.” said Kris Furnish, chairwoman of the campaign and Ward 3 voter.  “The rent freeze would offer real, immediate relief to people like me who are trying to stay afloat in a city where costs keep rising. We deserve a fair process — and a chance to vote on policies that could finally make housing in DC more stable and more affordable.”

If ultimately approved for circulation, the campaign must collect signatures from 5% of registered District voters citywide and 5% in five of the eight wards by Monday, July 6 in order to qualify for placement on the November 2026 general election ballot.  The campaign believes the Board’s decision to delay their vote will prevent the ballot initiative from going before voters this November.

Introducing the Rent Freeze Calculator

In tandem with yesterday’s monthly meeting of the DCBOE, More Affordable DC unveiled a new online Rent Freeze Calculator, designed to help District renters estimate how much they could save if the initiative’s proposed two-year rent freeze takes effect in 2027. The calculator allows tenants to input their current monthly rent and projected increases to visualize potential savings during the rent freeze period.

Campaign organizers say the tool underscores the real-world stakes of the initiative, particularly for renters facing compounding annual increases. If enacted, the measure would temporarily pause rent increases for covered units for two years, followed by structural reforms intended to align allowable increases more closely with inflation and affordability standards.

The URL for the Rent Freeze Calculator is www.MoreAffordableDC.org/calculator/

More Affordable DC describes itself as a citizen-led initiative committee focused on stabilizing rents, modernizing housing policy, and expanding accessibility to affordable housing in the District. For more information, please visit www.MoreAffordableDC.org

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                              

January 28, 2026
Contact: Press@MoreAffordableDC.org
Phone: 202-744-2671

More Affordable DC Campaign Withdraws Second Initiative Draft and Submits Third Legislative Text Reflecting OAG and OGC Advisory Guidance

Campaign Believes 3^rd Time Will Be the Charm

WASHINGTON, DC — On Friday, January 16, 2026, More Affordable DC, the ballot initiative campaign committee advocating for systemic housing reform in the District, withdrew the second draft of its ballot initiative and simultaneously submitted a revised third draft of the DC Housing Modernization and Accessibility Act of 2026 to the District of Columbia Board of Elections (DCBOE). 

The updated legislative text incorporates critical changes in response to advisory opinions issued by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) and the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) of the DC Council, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements for ballot initiatives.

The campaign’s initiative seeks transformative changes to DC’s affordable housing framework — including a two-year rent freeze upon enactment, automatic rent protections tied to inflation, and redefining what affordability actually means based on real DC incomes. It also seeks to ensure public land is used for truly affordable and family sized housing.

Responsive Legislative Revisions Following Advisory Guidance
Under DC law, before a ballot initiative can be circulated for signatures or placed on the ballot, the DCBOE must determine that the proposed measure is “proper subject matter,” a process informed by non-binding advisory opinions from both the OAG and the OGC. In November and December 2025, the OAG and OCG reviewed the DC Housing Modernization and Accessibility Act of 2026 and provided written legal advice addressing substantive and procedural concerns outlined in the proposed initiative texts.

A key issue addressed in the advisory opinions — and reflected in the third draft — include ensuring that the initiative conforms with subject matter limitations on special Council funds to avoid any misinterpretation that the initiative is directing Council appropriations & budgetary authority.

Statement from the Proposer:

“This campaign is committed to having voters decide meaningful housing reform in the District,” said Salim Adofo, Ward 8 Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner and proposer of the ballot initiative. “These revisions reflect our responsiveness to legal guidance and our determination to give every resident of DC a fair shot at living in an affordable, stable home — not just in theory, but in practice. We believe this third draft embodies both the urgency of our housing challenges and the procedural rigor required to place it before voters.”

Next Steps
Following submission of the revised legislative text, the DCBOE will soon publish a notice for the next public hearing to evaluate whether the third iteration of the DC Housing Modernization and Accessibility Act of 2026 meets the criteria to be circulated for petition signatures. Prior to this hearing, the OAG and OGC will provide their advisory opinions. If deemed proper subject matter, the initiative will be assigned a number and there will be another hearing to finalize the Short Title, Summary Statement, and Legislative Text. After this is published in the DC Register and 10 day challenge period expires, the DCBOE will hold a final hearing where the campaign will officially adopt the ballot access petition, which will start the signature-gathering phase, aiming to secure the threshold required for placement on the November 2026 general election ballot. The due date for petitions is Monday, July 6, 2026.

About More Affordable DC
More Affordable DC is a citizen-led ballot initiative committee focused on ensuring that District housing policy delivers affordability, stability, and opportunity for all residents. The campaign emphasizes rent protections, updating affordability definitions, and statutory reforms tailored to the lived economic realities of DC families and renters. More information and to read the revised legislative text please visit www.MoreAffordableDC.org

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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

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.

	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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