You must take precautionary measures to avoid an eviction or foreclosure. An eviction is a forced, legal removal of a tenant from their unit. Foreclosure is also a forced, legal removal of a homeowner from their property.
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Eviction Process – Tenant Defenses in Court |
Non-payment of rent or mortgage is not the only reason for an eviction or foreclosure. Violations of the lease agreement, such as the tenant conducting illegal activities in the unit, can start an eviction process. A homeowner can also face foreclosure for not paying property taxes, homeowner's association fees (HOA), or condominium fees.
The District of Columbia has a required legal process to protect tenants and homeowners from wrongful evictions or foreclosures. To learn more about the process, see the links below:
Renters
D.C. Bar’s Pro Bono, legal Assistance: Ways to Keep Your Home (legalaiddc.org)
Homeowners
LawHelp.org/D.C.* Foreclosures | Welcome to LawHelp.org/D.C. | A guide to free and low-cost legal aid and services in Washington, D.C..
In addition, it is helpful to know where to find information on financial assistance, free legal aid, and housing counseling for eviction and foreclosure prevention. Remember, financial assistance programs are based on the availability of funds.
See the table below for a list of eviction and foreclosure prevention programs:
| Recipient | Resource | Service | Contact Information |
| Tenant | Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) D.C. Department of Human Services (DHS) |
The program provides eligible D.C. residents facing evictions with financial assistance for overdue rent, including late fees and court costs. ERAP also supports security deposits and the first month's rent. |
Apply at: Or email at: |
| Tenant | Shallow Rent Subsidy Program D.C. Office on Aging and Community Living (DCAL) |
Eligible D.C. tenants aged 62 and older can receive up to $600 monthly for rental assistance. The applicant must be the leaseholder. |
Contact Intake at: Or visit the website: |
| Homeowner | Legal Service for the Elderly American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) |
AARP provides legal assistance for eviction defense, rent control disputes, avoidance of losing housing subsidies, reasonable accommodations, and tenants' opportunities to purchase their homes. |
Contact AARP at: Or visit the website: |
| Homeowner | D.C. Foreclosure Prevention Hotline D.C. Department of Insurance Security and Banking (DISB) |
The hotline provides help with accessing foreclosure prevention resources. |
Call the Hotline at: (202) 265-2255 Or visit the website: |
| Homeowner | HomeSaver D.C. Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA) |
HomeSaver is a foreclosure prevention program that assists unemployed and underemployed homeowners who may have fallen behind on their mortgage payments or property taxes. | Or visit the website: HomeSaver – DCHFA |
| Homeowner | Homeowners’ Assistance Fund (HAF) | The D.C. Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) Program uses the American Rescue Plan funding to provide grants to District Homeowners affected by COVID-19 to help keep their home. | Apply at: | haf (dc.gov) |
| Homeowner | Reverse Mortgage Insurance & Tax Payment Program (ReMIT) D.C. Housing Finance Agency (DHFA) |
Reverse Mortgage Insurance & Tax Payment Program (ReMIT) provides eligible homeowners with financial assistance for delinquent property taxes, homeowner's insurance, condominium fees/homeowners association fees, and certain property-related expenses that put the homeowner at risk of foreclosure. Qualified homeowners can receive up to $25,000 in assistance via a zero-interest, non-recourse loan. |
For more information on DHFA’s ReMIT program, call: (202) 265-2255. Or email at: [email protected] Or visit the website: |
| Homeowner | Property Tax Relief Programs D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) |
OTR offers several property tax relief programs for low-income homeowners, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and veterans. |
For more information, call: (202) 727-4829 Or |
| Tenants and Homeowners | HUD-Certified Housing Counselors | D.C. homeowners can receive free foreclosure and eviction prevention counseling from a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-certified housing counselor. Homeowners receive guidance on the foreclosure prevention or eviction process, learn about options, including loans for homeowners and cash for keys. If available, receive help applying for financial assistance programs. | For more information and to locate a HUD-certified housing counselor near you, click on the link below: Housing Counseling Services CBOs | dhcd (dc.gov) |
*D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center project in partnership with D.C. Consortium of Legal Service Providers