Know Your Rights

Affordable Housing Preservation

Organizing and empowering tenants to participate in the decisions that influence their lives. 

LEDC’s Affordable Housing Preservation Program works to preserve multi-family, rental housing as affordable and prevent tenant displacement.  We use popular education, technical assistance, community organizing, and advocacy to help tenants: a) improve their living conditions; b) develop leadership and organizing skills so that they can advocate for improved housing policies and c) take advantage of and maintain existing policies, particularly DC’s Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act and the Section 8 program, to achieve long-term affordability of their homes.

Since LEDC initiated this Program in 2004, it has successfully helped over three thousand tenants maintain their apartments as affordable, and none of our clients has suffered displacement.

Supporting Tenant Purchase. LEDC supports tenant purchase by providing technical assistance, education and organizing support to tenant associations throughout the purchase process.

Preserving Section 8 Housing. Through advocacy and education, LEDC works with tenant associations to ensure the preservation of Section 8 contracts at buildings throughout the District of Columbia.

Protecting Rights. LEDC prevents displacement of tenants by helping them to protect their right to live in decent and safe housing.

Organizing Associations. We provide technical assistance and training to tenant leaders with the end goal of establishing and strengthening the voice of tenant associations.