Advocacy
Why Advocacy Is Central to Our Mission
Jubilee Housing creates Justice Housing® one building at a time. But the forces driving displacement, segregation, and housing unaffordability in Washington, DC operate at a systems level through policy decisions, budget priorities, zoning rules, and the political choices that determine where certain people get to live where in our city.
That's why advocacy is core to who we are. From the city's budget to federal housing policy, from tenant rights legislation to zoning reform, from City Hall to Capitol Hill, Jubilee Housing uses its voice. We amplify the voices of our residents and community members to push for the policy environment that makes affordable housing possible—not just in our properties, but across all of Washington, DC.
In this debut episode of Jubilee’s podcast, we sit down with Tyrell Holcomb, Vice President of External Affairs at Jubilee Housing, to get insights into his work.
Our Advocacy Approach
Jubilee Housing brings several distinct assets to advocacy work:
We have decades of on-the-ground experience developing and operating Justice Housing® and we know what policy changes make the most difference for residents and developers alike.
Our residents are powerful voices for housing justice, and we center their experiences and leadership in our advocacy efforts.
Third, we are embedded in DC's affordable housing ecosystem and serve in coalitions alongside organizations like CNHED (The Coalition), DC Fiscal Policy Institute, the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, and others.
What We Advocate For
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Over 82,000 DC residents face unaffordable rents, dangerous conditions, or eviction risk. Meaningful progress requires meaningful investment. Jubilee Housing shows up at budget hearings, in coalition spaces, and in conversations with elected officials to make that case.
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Jubilee Housing is an active voice in defense of Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) and other tenant protections. We monitor legislative changes, participate in public comment processes, and stand with tenant associations and advocacy coalitions when these protections are under threat.
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Where housing gets built — and for whom — is shaped by zoning policy. We advocate for zoning rules that enable deeply affordable housing in thriving neighborhoods, not just in areas that have historically been underinvested. This includes support for inclusionary zoning, missing middle housing policy, transit-oriented development, and the removal of barriers to affordable housing production in high-opportunity neighborhoods.
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Jubilee Housing serves residents who face the most severe barriers to housing stability: individuals returning from incarceration, people exiting homelessness, and those with complex support needs. We advocate for policy environments that support these populations — including funding for Permanent Supportive Housing, reform of background check practices that screen out returning citizens from housing, and investment in the wraparound services that make housing stability sustainable.
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Washington, DC has the highest rate of gentrification of any major US city. Communities of color — particularly in Wards 7 and 8, and increasingly in neighborhoods like Adams Morgan — are being displaced by rising rents and speculative real estate investment. Jubilee Housing advocates for anti-displacement policies that preserve mixed-income, mixed-race neighborhoods and protect the rights of long-term residents to remain in the communities they built.
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Washington, DC has the highest rate of gentrification of any major US city. Communities of color — particularly in Wards 7 and 8, and increasingly in neighborhoods like Adams Morgan — are being displaced by rising rents and speculative real estate investment. Jubilee Housing advocates for anti-displacement policies that preserve mixed-income, mixed-race neighborhoods and protect the rights of long-term residents to remain in the communities they built.
Current Policy Priorities
Our advocacy agenda reflects both the immediate threats facing DC residents and the long-term investments needed to make Justice Housing the norm rather than the exception. Current focus areas include:
Sustained and increased DC Housing Production Trust Fund appropriations
Defense and reform of the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA)
Expanded Local Rent Supplement Program (LRSP) vouchers for deeply affordable housing
Inclusive zoning policy that enables affordability in high-opportunity neighborhoods
Criminal background check reform for housing applicants
Federal housing policy: Section 8 voucher expansion, LIHTC reform, and HUD funding
Explore Partnership Opportunities
Are you a lender, foundation, investor, or public agency interested in partnering with Jubilee Housing on innovative financing for Justice Housing? We welcome conversations about how mission capital can make a greater impact in DC's most underserved communities.