Affordable Housing Retrofit Accelerator (AHRA)

This program uses District and Home Energy Rebates funding from the Inflation Reduction Act to retrofit affordable housing in the District. The Affordable Housing Retrofit Accelerator (AHRA) is a partnership between the DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU), the District Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) and the DC Green Bank. It offers enhanced technical and financial assistance to owners and managers of qualifying affordable multifamily buildings that do not meet the District’s Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS). To benefit from AHRA assistance, a building must first qualify as affordable multifamily housing. To do this, it must be primarily residential and contain 5 or more subsidized or unsubsidized dwellings . Additionally, one of the following is required: The building must feature restrictions or other covenants requiring that at least 50% of all units are occupied by households with incomes less than or equal to 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) The building owner must demonstrate that at least 50% of all units are affordable to households with incomes less than or equal to 80% of the AMI. AHRA assistance is subject to funding availability and is presently prioritized for affordable multifamily buildings that measure 50,000 square feet or greater and fail to meet BEPS compliance. The AHRA program will conduct education, outreach, and engagement to property owners and tenants from Fall 2024 to Summer 2026. For complete income qualification thresholds, rent requirements, and program descriptions, refer to the program website.