To tackle the persistent issue of housing affordability in the District, Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb has made a decisive move by launching the Housing Protection and Affordability Initiative. According to an announcement from the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), this initiative marks a significant step toward keeping District residents securely housed and combating the rising costs that too many currently face.
Central to this program is the inauguration of a designated role, Senior Counsel for Housing Protection and Affordability, which will be helmed by Beth Mellen. Expanding upon her role as Assistant Deputy Attorney General of OAG’s Public Advocacy Division, Mellen is expected to lead the charge in safeguarding and growing affordable housing stock. Schwalb, in a statement released by the OAG, highlighted that "Fighting to ensure every District resident has a safe and affordable place to call home has been one of my top priorities because far too many District residents are overburdened by ever-increasing housing costs."
The initiative outlined by Schwalb is intended to address several key areas affecting housing, including advocacy during the zoning process, stronger enforcement of housing regulations, and partnership with other District agencies like the Department of Buildings and the Metropolitan Police Department. By fostering collaboration within the residential real estate sector, the OAG aims to streamline efforts and catalyze progress in maintaining and increasing affordable living spaces. Mellen regarded as a leading authority with decades of experience in housing law, is poised to spearhead these workstreams and strategies.
Supporting Mellen in this endeavor, the OAG is also introducing three additional personnel roles. These include the establishment of a new Special Counsel for Housing Code Enforcement and the recently established Special Counsel for Nuisance Abatement reporting to the Senior Counsel. Furthermore, the Equitable Land Use (ELU) Section is being strategically realigned from the Commercial Division to fall under the guidance of the Senior Counsel in the Public Advocacy Division. Through these developments, the initiative looks forward to delivering measurable outcomes that will directly benefit residents who need it the most.
