COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
OFFICE OF COUNCILMEMBER BROOKE PINTO
THE JOHN A. WILSON BUILDING
1350 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W., SUITE 106
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20004
March 24, 2025
Nyasha Howard, Secretary
Council of the District of Columbia
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Secretary Howard,
Today, along with Councilmembers Matthew Frumin, Anita Bonds, and Brianne K. Nadeau, I am
introducing the “Project Homecoming Amendment Act of 2025.” This bill marks the creation of
a critical initiative aimed at providing stable housing and comprehensive support for individuals
returning home after incarceration. This legislation establishes a structured, community-based,
reentry housing program that connects returning citizens with family, friends, or vetted
independent homeowners, offering financial assistance, training, and case management services to
support successful reintegration.
Housing insecurity remains one of the greatest barriers to successful reentry. Each year thousands
of DC residents are released from DC Department of Corrections
1
and over 2,000 individuals
return to the District from federal custody.
2
Too many find themselves without a safe place to live.
Individuals released from incarceration are 10 times more likely to experience homelessness than
the general population.
3
Without stable housing, returning citizens face increased risks of
unemployment, instability, and recidivism—challenges that impact not only those individuals but
also their families and communities and the District as a whole.
Jurisdictions across the country are demonstrating that innovative, community-driven housing
models work. Specifically, Impact Justice’s Homecoming Project, piloted in California, has
demonstrated that pairing returning citizens with vetted hosts—while providing financial
assistance and support services—leads to stable housing, increased employment opportunities, and
a dramatically reduced risk of recidivism.
4
By integrating these best practices, this bill ensures that
returning citizens in D.C. have access to a supportive, structured housing program tailored to their
needs.
The Project Homecoming Act will:
1
DC Department of Corrections, Facts and Figures (October 2022), available here.
2
Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. Reentry in the District of Columbia: Supporting Returning
Citizens' Transitions into the Community, available here.
3
Office of Justice Programs, Impact Justice: Changing the conversation, and reality, around
homelessness, available here
4
Impact Justice, The Homecoming Project: Finding a better way home (2025), available here.
• Provide direct rental stipends of $1,500 per month to family members, friends, or
individuals willing to house a returning citizen;
• Ensure returning citizens have access to wraparound reentry services, including
counseling, job training, and financial literacy support;
• Require mandatory training for hosts, equipping them with the knowledge and skills
needed to provide a stable, supportive environment;
• Establish structured rental agreements, ensuring clear expectations and dispute resolution
mechanisms; and
• Ensure strong oversight and accountability, with the Commission on Reentry and
Returning Citizen Affairs monitoring implementation and outcomes.
A stable home is the foundation for successful reentry. When returning citizens have safe housing,
they are more likely to secure employment, contribute to their communities, and avoid
reoffending.
5
By investing in housing solutions that strengthen families and expand community
support networks, we reduce the strain on emergency shelters, lower incarceration costs, and foster
safer neighborhoods.
Should you have any questions about this legislation, please contact my Legislative Policy
Advisor, Anaiah Mitchell, at amitchell@dccouncil.gov.
Thank you,
Brooke Pinto
Councilmember, Ward 2
Chairwoman, Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety
Council of the District of Columbia
5
Augustine, D., & Kushel, M, Community Supervision, Housing Insecurity, & Homelessness, The Annals
of the American Academy of Political and Social Science (2022), available here.
_____________________________ _____________________________ 1
Councilmember Matthew Frumin Councilmember Brooke Pinto 2
3
4
_____________________________ _____________________________ 5
Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau Councilmember Anita Bonds 6
7
8
9
A BILL 10
11
_________________________ 12
13
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 14
15
_________________________ 16
17
18
To establish a program to support citizens who have recently returned from incarceration by 19
facilitating access to affordable housing, economic stability, and community connections, 20
thereby promoting successful reentry and reducing recidivism, to require the Mayor’s 21
Office of Returning Citizen’s Affairs to administer and implement the program, and to 22
require the Commission on Reentry and Returning Citizen’s Affairs to oversee the 23
implementation of the program and ensure compliance with the provisions established 24
under this act. 25
26
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 27
act may be cited as the “Project Homecoming Amendment Act of 2025”. 28
Sec. 2. The Office on Ex-Offender Affairs and the Commission on Re-Entry and Ex-29
Offender Affairs Establishment Act of 2006, effective March 8, 2007 (D.C. Official Code § 24-30
1302), is amended as follows: 31
(a) Section 2 is amended by adding new paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), and (5) to read as 32
follows: 33
(1) “Program participant” means a returning citizen participating in the Returning 34
Citizens Family and Community Reunification Support Program. 35
(2) "Program" means the Returning Citizens Family and Community Reunification 36
Support Program established by this act. 37
(3) "Eligible household" means an individual who meets the eligibility requirements 38
established in section 3a(c) of this act. 39
(4) “Eligible program participant” means a returning citizen who meets the eligibility 40
requirements established in section 3a(d) of this act. 41
(5) "Rental Agreement" means a structured, time-limited agreement between an Eligible 42
Household and a Program participant, facilitated through the Program, that sets expectations for 43
housing arrangements, financial assistance, and support services. 44
(b) A new section 3a is added to read as follows: 45
“Sec. 3a. “(a) The Office shall establish a Returning Citizens Family and Community 46
Reunification and Support Program ("Program") to assist eligible households with housing and 47
support returning citizens who are recently returned in finding high quality, supportive living 48
arrangements. 49
“(b)(1) The Program shall: 50
“(A) Support returning citizens who are recently returned in finding high quality, supportive 51
living arrangements; 52
“(B) Provide direct financial assistance to eligible households to subsidize 53
housing and support costs associated with housing returning citizens; 54
“(C) Train eligible households on typical challenges facing returning citizens, 55
available support resources across the District, and program expectations of eligible households; 56
“(D) Connect program participants to wraparound services, including counseling, 57
employment support, and access to mental health services; and 58
“(E) Monitor and evaluate households and individuals participating in the 59
program quarterly for compliance to program requirements and to understand outcomes. 60
(2) In Fiscal Year 2026, the Office may use up to 5% of funds allocated for this 61
Program for administrative costs associated with implementation. 62
“(c) For a household to be eligible, the individual representing the household shall: 63
“(1) Reside in the District of Columbia; 64
“(2) Have a lease or deed with their name on it at the location where they reside; 65
“(3) Successfully complete a program screening and approval process; 66
(4) Participate in mandatory training as described in subsection (e)(3) of this act; 67
“(5) Provide a single, enclosed, non-shared space of at least 70 square feet at the 68
address listed in the lease or deed where they reside to an eligible program participant for at least 69
6 months; 70
“(6) Demonstrate financial need for support to maintain stable living 71
arrangements; 72
“(7) Sign a housing agreement, meeting the requirements of subsection (e) of 73
this section, with an eligible program participant; and 74
(8) Agree to participate in Program evaluations, including periodic check-ins, and 75
service utilization reviews. 76
“(d) To be eligible, a program participant must: 77
(1) Have been incarcerated for at least 365 days consecutively, with a release date 78
within the past 24 months; 79
(2) Remain compliant with applicable parole agreements, maintain contact with 80
parole agent, including confirmation of new address and all other conditions 81
of parole; and 82
(3) Sign a housing agreement, meeting the requirements of subsection (e) of this 83
section, with an eligible household. 84
“(e) The Office shall: 85
“(1) Establish and facilitate housing agreements between Program Participants 86
and Participating Households that: 87
“(A) Establishes clear expectations, rights, and responsibilities for 88
Program Participants and Participating Households; 89
“(B) Outlines mutual expectations regarding housing conditions and 90
financial assistance; 91
“(C) Includes a dispute resolution mechanism to address conflicts between 92
Program Participants and Participating Households; 93
“(D) Establishes a right for the Participating Household to immediately 94
terminate the lease agreement and for the Program Participant to vacate the property if the 95
Program Participant brings a weapon or drug onto the property or commits a physical assault on 96
the property; and 97
“(E) Establishes a right for the Participating Household to provide 30 days 98
notice to terminate the lease agreement and for the Program Participant to vacate the property for 99
any reason; 100
“(2) Administer the program, including ensuring program compliance, supporting 101
participant success, and evaluating outcomes; 102
“(3) Partner with community-based reentry service providers to provide training 103
for Participating Households, which shall be completed prior to approval of an 104
application and shall include: 105
“(A) Understanding reentry challenges, including employment barriers, 106
legal restrictions, and stigmas faced; 107
“(B) Trauma-informed support, including strategies for assisting 108
individuals transitioning from incarceration; 109
“(C) Conflict resolution to foster positive household dynamics; 110
“(D) Housing stability best practices and setting household expectations; 111
and 112
“(E) Available community resources, including mental health and 113
employment services for returning citizens; 114
“(3) Maintain a database of approved eligible households willing to participate in 115
the program and match those households with eligible participants; 116
“(4) Establish an application process for eligible program participants and eligible 117
households and issue a request for applications for this Program no later than January 31, 118
2026, and no later than January 31 annually thereafter; 119
“(5) Allocate funds to Participating Households in the form of monthly stipends 120
$1,500 per month per Program Participant and notify approved applicants no later than October 121
31, 2026; 122
“(6) Partner with community-based organizations and other District agencies, 123
including the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Department of 124
Employment Services, The Department of Human Services, and the Department of Behavioral 125
Health, to provide reentry services and case management to program participants; and 126
“(7) Conduct annual reviews to assess the Program’s impact on recidivism, 127
employment, and housing stability among returning citizens and submit an annual report to the 128
Council detailing Program operations, outcomes, and recommendations for improvement. 129
“(f) The Commission on Reentry and Returning Citizen Affairs, as established by section 130
4a of this act, shall oversee the implementation of this Program and ensure compliance with its 131
provisions. 132
“(1) The Commission shall: 133
“(A) Monitor program outcomes, including housing stability, employment rates, 134
and recidivism reduction among Program Participants; 135
“(B) Provide policy recommendations to the Mayor and the Council regarding 136
improvements to the Program; 137
“(C) Conduct an annual review of financial expenditures, participation rates, and 138
service utilization to assess the Program’s effectiveness; 139
“(D) Hold quarterly public meetings to solicit feedback from Program 140
Participants, Participating Households, and community stakeholders; and 141
“(E) Submit an annual report to the Director and the Council detailing the 142
Program’s impact, challenges, and recommendations for expansion or modification. 143
“(2) MORCA shall provide all necessary data, reports, and administrative support to the 144
Commission to facilitate oversight and ensure transparency.” 145
Sec. 3. Rules. 146
The Mayor, pursuant to Title I of the District of Columbia Administrative Procedure Act, 147
approved October 21, 1968 (82 Stat. 1204; D.C. Official Code § 2-501 et seq.) shall issue rules 148
to implement the provisions of this act. 149
Sec.4. Fiscal impact statement 150
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal impact 151
statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved 152
October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 153
Sec. 5. Effective date. 154
This act shall take effect after approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 155
Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as 156
provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 157
24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of 158
Columbia Register. 159