Permanently Affordable Housing

As Mayor, Khan will make adding 100,000 PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOMES in Washington DC a top priority. Under Khan’s plan, fair, safe, and affordable housing will be added at record pace, with mortgages and rents capped at $900 for a 1-bedroom, $1,250 for 2-bedroom and $1,500 for 3-bedroom units. These are prices not seen since 1980 (adjusted for inflation). But forget the 'projects' of the past. Imagine sleek, modern sanctuaries featuring free childcare, private gyms, and EV-ready parking. It’s high-end living at a hometown price. Welcome to the new standard.

How We Will Pay for 100,000 Permanently Affordable Homes in DC

For decades, our national priorities have been upside down. While families in Wards 7 and 8 and other parts of DC struggle with skyrocketing rents and displacement, we are told there is 'no money' for housing. Yet, when it comes to endless wars and unproven and failed weapons systems, the money is always there. Since 2000, the U.S. has committed trillions of dollars to wars and weapons systems that have failed and did not meet strategic needs. The Department of War / Pentagon has NEVER passed a financial audit! Trillions of dollars remain unaccounted for. Such spending has especially benefited those who built mansions and installed their kids in Ivy League schools, top law firms and Fortune 50 companies.

In 2025, Congress cut Washington DC’s budget by $1.1 billion, which affected everything from schools to snow removal.

Khan’s plan? We start by declaring war on the affordability crisis in our own backyard. We start by rebuilding our own District. We start by treating the root causes of poverty, crime as a National Security Issue. As Mayor, Khan will work with the Trump administration and Congress to secure a $100 billion investment, taken directly from our Defense Budget by slashing underperforming and obsolete military programs, and invest that sum in building 100,000 permanently affordable homes right here in the District.

We aren't just building apartments; we are building a future where our teachers, our students, our first responders, our seniors, and our families can actually afford to live in the city they built. It’s time to bring that 'war budget' home to DC. It’s time to declare war on unaffordable housing, a SIGNIFICANT, DOCUMENTED factor driving both poverty and crime in Washington, DC.

As Mayor, Khan will not rely on federal support alone. He will influence housing policy through additional channels:

1. Leverage Local Legislative Control (Home Rule)

While Congress has oversight, the Mayor and DC Council have the power to enact local laws that don't require federal funding.

• The RENTAL Act (2025): The Mayor recently pushed for this legislation to revitalize the housing ecosystem by streamlining court processes and protecting existing affordable units.

• Local Trust Funds: By aggressively funding the Housing Production Trust Fund (HPTF)—which recently saw a $100 million boost—the Mayor can bypass federal budget cuts to HUD.

2. Radical Zoning and Permitting Reform

As Mayor, Khan will make building cheaper by removing bureaucratic red tape—a strategy that often aligns with a conservative "deregulation" agenda.

• Upzoning: Increasing density in Wards 7 and 8 allows more units to be built on the same land, lowering the per-unit cost.

• Fast-Tracking: Implementing directives like Los Angeles's "ED1" to allow 100% affordable projects to bypass lengthy public hearings and environmental reviews, significantly cutting soft costs.

3. Protecting Home Rule as a Shield

President Trump has previously threatened to federalize DC's operations or repeal the Home Rule Act.

• As Mayor, Khan will ensure that local funds (raised through DC taxes) are not diverted by Congress to federal priorities like a "military surge".

4. Public-Private Partnerships

With federal rental assistance (vouchers) at risk of being slashed by up to 43% under Trump-era budget outlines, Khan will move fast to:

• Engage Local Employers: Partner with large DC institutions (universities, hospitals) to co-fund workforce housing.

• Utilize Tax-Exempt Bonds: Use the DC Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA) to offer low-cost mortgages to private developers in exchange for strict rent caps.