Mayor Anthony A. Williams and his Administration are committed to neighborhood revitalization and homeownership across the District. One challenge is decreasing the number of vacant and abandoned residential properties. In 2003, the Department of Consumer Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) determined that there are at least 2,700 vacant and abandoned residential properties in the District. These properties contribute to blight, crime, and neighborhood instability.

To address this challenge, Home Again has two goals: 1) Encourage property owners to rehabilitate and/or occupy their vacant and abandoned residential property; and 2) Acquire, dispose of, and rehabilitate properties when owners fail to maintain them.

Currently, Home Again focuses on neighborhoods with high concentrations of vacant and abandoned residential property: Columbia Heights, Ivy City/Trinidad, Near Northeast, Shaw/Ledroit Park, and Rosedale. The residents in these communities also identified rehabilitating vacant and abandoned properties as a high priority in their Strategic Neighborhood Action Plans (SNAPs).

Home Again in Action

Home Again begins by identifying a vacant and abandoned property and contacting the owner. In some cases, owners rehabilitate their properties after being encouraged by Home Again staff. In other cases, owners agree to sell their property to the District. If owners fail to properly maintain their properties, Home Again gains site control through eminent domain or by foreclosing on the property for delinquent taxes.

Once Home Again acquires properties, the land is bundled by geography and economic potential. Prequalified developers then bid to purchase and renovate the bundle. Home Again requires that developers apply for pre-qualified status to ensure that they are capable of completing high quality and affordable rehabilitation projects. The selected developer then has one year from the time of closing on the bundle to complete the rehabilitation. The developer then sells the properties to qualified homebuyers. A goal of Home Again is that 30% of all the renovated properties be sold to homebuyers who earn less than 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI).

If you would like additional information, please contact Home Again at (202) 727-3774 or visit the website.

Complete text is available as a PDF file. Click here* to download.

View* location maps of Home Again property acquisition, disposition, and owner rehabilitated properties. Click here to see the neighborhoods where we work.