(Washington, DC) Mayor Adrian M. Fenty on Monday introduced his administration’s detailed plan to combat homelessness and preserve affordable housing across the District.

“We are facing a real crisis of affordability in this city,” Mayor Fenty said. “And we are facing the challenge head on. We need to address the housing needs for all residents–at all levels of need–from the chronically homeless, to those struggling with monthly rent payments, to those scrimping to come up with a down payment for their first house.”

In addition to reiterating the administration’s commitment to providing $117 million in new revenue each year for affordable housing, Mayor Fenty promised to preserve at least 500 units of affordable housing in the Columbia Heights, Brightwood, Deanwood Heights and Washington Highlands neighborhoods during the next two years. He announced the creation of a SWAT team to closely monitor federal and privately-owned at-risk properties to prevent foreclosures. Mayor Fenty also reiterated his administration’s commitment to refuse rent increases on rent-controlled properties with code violations, hold landlords accountable for long-overdue repairs and crack down on habitual violators. The administration will introduce legislation next month to give the District the authority to block condo conversions where there are existing code violations.

Mayor Fenty also re-affirmed the administration’s commitment to the Homeless No More Plan, which is designed to improve the quality of life for all residents of the District by preventing and ending homelessness within 10 years. The District will ensure that 2,500 units of permanent supportive housing for our most vulnerable residents are developed during the next seven years.

As part of this initiative, the District has already taken strides to transform its family shelter system. Between August and November, more than 150 families were moved out of shelters and into housing in our communities throughout the District; this action included the closing of the DC Village emergency family shelter. Over the next year the District will house more than 350 chronically homeless individuals currently located in the downtown area. It will also dedicate a property at 4th and H Street, NW, to Catholic Charities for a 150-unit development of supportive housing for chronically homeless individuals.