D.C. Code tit. 42 § 42-3531.16
Emergency Housing and Relocation Assistance Fund.
Operative Text
(a) There is established as a special fund the Emergency Housing and Relocation Assistance Fund ("Fund"), which shall be administered by the Office of the Tenant Advocate in accordance with subsections (c) and (d) of this section.
(b) Revenue from interest, costs, expenses, fees, fines, penalties, and other charges collected pursuant to §§ 42-3531.11 through 42-3531.15 shall be deposited in the Fund.
(c) Money in the Fund shall be used to offset some of the costs of providing emergency housing and relocation assistance.
(d) The money deposited into the Fund, and interest earned, shall not revert to the unrestricted fund balance of the General Fund of the District of Columbia at the end of a fiscal year, or at any other time.D.C. Code § 42-3531.16 establishes a dedicated special fund called the Emergency Housing and Relocation Assistance Fund, administered by the Office of the Tenant Advocate. Revenue collected through interest, fees, fines, and penalties under the related provisions (§§ 42-3531.11 through 42-3531.15) flows into this fund rather than into the District's general budget. The money is earmarked specifically to help cover the costs of emergency housing and relocation assistance, and it carries over from year to year without reverting to the general fund.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under D.C. Code § 42-3531.16, fines, penalties, fees, and other charges that may be assessed against property owners under §§ 42-3531.11 through 42-3531.15 are directed into this dedicated fund rather than disappearing into the general budget. Operators who remain in compliance with the underlying provisions in that statutory range reduce their exposure to the charges that feed this fund. Keeping thorough records of compliance with those related sections is a practice commonly associated with responsible property management in the District.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
D.C. Code § 42-3531.16 creates a protected pool of money—the Emergency Housing and Relocation Assistance Fund—managed by the Office of the Tenant Advocate and funded in part by penalties collected from violations of §§ 42-3531.11 through 42-3531.15. Because the fund does not revert to the general budget at year's end, resources can accumulate over time to support emergency housing and relocation assistance for tenants in need. Tenants who believe they may be eligible for assistance, or who want to understand how enforcement of the related provisions works, can reach out to the Office of the Tenant Advocate directly or consult a local tenant-rights organization for general guidance.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation