September 16, 2024
Nyasha Smith, Secretary
Council of the District of Columbia
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Secretary Smith,
Today, I am introducing the Housing is Maternal Health Amendment Act of 2024. Please find
enclosed a signed copy of the legislation, which is co -introduced by Councilmembe rs Bonds,
Henderson, and Pinto.
Stable housing is essential for expecting mothers.
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Housing insecurity contributes to elevated
stress levels, which can negatively impact pregnancy outcomes, including increasing the levels
of cortisol, a stress hormone that can affect fetal development. Earlier this year, my Legislative
Director, Kendra Wiley, visited non- profit Mamatoto Village in Ward 7 to learn more about the
ways they serve Black women in maternal health. When she asked about improving maternal
health outcomes, leaders at Mamatoto Village again emphasized the centrality of stable housing
for expectant mothers.
For purposes of providing services for people who are unhoused, the definition of “family” under
the Homeless Services Reform Act is defined as “a person with a minor or dependent child, or a
pregnant woman in her third trimester.” The enclosed legislation proposes an important
amendment to the current definition of "family" under the law, extending access to short -term
family housing to expecting mothers beginning in the ir second trimester instead of the third.
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This change allows expecting mothers in their second trimester to receive similar priority shown
to other families, such as interim eligibility placement when shelter is unavailable, automatic
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Bhatnagar, P., Abdus-Salaam, R., Canzater, S., Efetevbia, V., Freeborn, R., Girard, V.,
Nedhari, A., F. Perry, D.F., Snowden, E., & Watson, K. (2024). Housing Justice Is Reproductive
Justice: A Review of Housing Justice as a Structural Determinant of Black Women and Birthing People’s Reproductive Health in Washington, DC: Mamatoto Village.
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The Department of Human Services provides an overview of homeless services available to
families, individuals, and youth here: https://dhs.dc.gov/page/homeless -and-homelessness-
prevention- services. 2
eligibility determination if the Mayor does not issue one within 12 days of an eligibility
placement, and mandatory placement in shelter when determined to be eligible.
Making this change represents a targeted but crucial step towards improving maternal health
outcomes in Washington, D.C. The District’s maternal mortality rate is alarmingly high, nearly
double the national average, with women of color bearing the brunt of these adverse outcomes.
As a member of the D.C. Council’s Committee on Health. I look forward to working with my
colleagues on the C ouncil and in the e xecutive to advance better maternal health outcomes in the
District. Please contact my Deputy Chief of S taff, Conor Shaw, at cshaw@dccouncil.gov if you
have any questions about this legislation.
Sincerely,
Zachary Parker
Ward 5 Councilmember
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Chairman C hristina Henderson Councilmember Zachary Parker 4
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Councilmember A nita Bonds Councilmember Brooke Pinto 8
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A BILL 10
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 14
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To amend the Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005 to change the definition of “ family” to 19
include a pregnant woman in her second trimester. 20
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may 22
be cited as the “Housing is Maternal Health Amendment Act of 2024”. 23
Sec. 2. Section 2(16)(B) of The Homeless Services Reform Amendment Act of 2005, effective 24
October 22, 2005 (D.C. Law 16- 35; D.C. Official Code § 4-751.01(16)(B) ), is amended by 25
striking the phrase “third trimester.” and inserting the phrase “second or third trimester.” 26
Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement. 27
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 28
impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 29
approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1- 301.47a). 30
Sec. 4. Effective date. 31
This act shall take effect after approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 32
Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30- day period of congressional review as 33
provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 34
24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1- 206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of 35
Columbia Register. 36