Bowser Administration Kicks Off #RootstoRoofs Housing Week with Tiny Home Unveiling

Tiny Homes Demonstration Project, Built by Students from IDEA Public Charter School, Part of Vacant to Vibrant DC Initiative

(WASHINGTON, DC) – (RealEstateRama) — The Bowser Administration kicked off #RootstoRoofs Housing Week by unveiling two tiny homes in the Deanwood neighborhood of Ward 7. The tiny homes, which are part of a demonstration project, were designed and built in partnership with the DC Students Construction Trades Foundation and students in the Academy of Construction and Design at IDEA Public Charter School in Northeast DC.

“Today, we’re proud to showcase tiny homes built by DC students. With this demonstration project, we’re putting vacant property to use and equipping students with the skills they need to land high paying jobs in the District,” said Mayor Bowser. “The idea behind Roots to Roofs DC is simple: As Washington, DC grows, we’re going to make room for everyone, especially our residents who put down roots long ago.”

The tiny homes demonstration project is part of Mayor Bowser’s five-point Vacant to Vibrant DC initiative, administered by the DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), through which vacant spaces are being transformed into productive solutions, such as affordable housing and green space.

“Students in our skilled trades classes and interns in our ACAD Builds program worked on these projects throughout school year and summer CTE sessions,” says Paula Ralph, Chief Operating Officer for the DC Students Construction Trades Foundation. “Their creativity, technical skill, and know-how are evident in these unique homes.”

As part of the Vacant to Vibrant DC initiative, DHCD:

• has issued contracts to two Certified Business Enterprises—Katco and H.E.P.—to renovate vacant buildings into affordable housing;
• will soon close on its agreement to build affordable housing on two sites through the DC Housing Finance Agency’s Housing Investment Platform;
• is actively finalizing closing on 32 auction sites; and
• recently signed four easements with Casey Trees that will conserve valuable green space in the District.

“Mayor Bowser charged me with aggressively transforming properties currently in DHCD inventory into vibrant spaces and I’m pleased to report great process in turning over 40 sites into over 80 vibrant spaces,” said DHCD Director Polly Donaldson.

Roots to Roofs Housing Week runs from September 24 to October 1. The tiny homes demonstration project is one several events highlighting the Bowser Administration’s progress in providing all Washingtonians a fair shot by creating and preserving affordable housing. Since coming into office, the Bowser Administration has delivered 6,000 affordable units, with another 5,200 under construction.