Washington, D.C. – In a bid to shield financially vulnerable families and keep affordable‑housing stock intact, Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb is pressing the D.C. Council to strengthen the Shared Housing Agreements and Resolution Effort (SHARE) Act. The proposed amendments would create an early‑mediation program for eviction cases involving unpaid rent and raise the annual participation ceiling from 2,000 to at least 5,000 cases.
Why the Change Is Needed
Before the pandemic, an initial eviction hearing typically occurred about 30 days after a complaint was filed. Today, landlords and tenants often wait 90 days for that first appearance, and follow‑up hearings that once took two or three weeks can now stretch another two or three months. Those delays turn a temporary cash shortfall into a full‑blown housing crisis for families already struggling to make ends meet.
“Eviction proceedings have slowed considerably since the pandemic, leaving landlords without rental income and tenants facing debts that become increasingly difficult to repay,” said Beth Mellen, senior counsel for housing protection and affordability in the Attorney General’s Office.
Impact on Affordable‑Housing Providers
Many affordable‑housing owners collect only 70% to 80% of the rent owed, leaving them unable to meet mortgage obligations, maintain properties, or fund necessary improvements. Prolonged arrears can push these owners toward foreclosure or bankruptcy, jeopardizing the affordability agreements that keep units available for low‑income residents.
“If a property loses its affordability protections, those units disappear from the District’s affordable‑housing inventory, hurting the very families the city aims to help,” Schwalb warned.
Proposed Legislative Fixes
The SHARE Act would insert a mediation step between the filing of an eviction complaint and the initial hearing, giving landlords and tenants a chance to negotiate before additional rent accrues. The Attorney General’s office also wants the Council to remove procedural obstacles that prolong cases, fund housing counseling and legal representation for tenants, and secure additional federal funding for judges and staff in the Superior Court’s Landlord and Tenant Branch.
Federal funding for D.C. courts has remained flat for four years, even as expenses rise. The administration’s FY 2027 budget proposal includes a 13% reduction, a cut that could further strain the court system’s ability to process eviction matters promptly.
Numbers and Outlook
The District files roughly 15,000 eviction cases each year. In 2025, fewer than 1% of those cases went to trial, with most settlements occurring months after the original filings. By expanding the SHARE Act’s capacity to at least 5,000 cases annually, the Council could address a significant share of the backlog while preserving both tenant stability and landlord revenue.
Local stakeholders—including landlords, tenant organizers, judges, and housing advocates—have been consulted throughout the drafting process. Mellen also leads Housing Unity DC’s Nonpayment of Rent Working Group, which has examined ways to shorten proceedings without sacrificing protections for residents.
Attorney General’s Position
“The SHARE Act is a meaningful step in the right direction,” Schwalb said. “These amendments are based on extensive conversations with both landlords and tenants and will help resolve eviction cases more quickly.”
As the Council debates the proposal, supporters argue that faster mediation aligns with the District’s broader goal of expanding safe, affordable housing for all residents, while critics caution about potential impacts on tenant rights. The outcome will shape how D.C. balances property owners’ financial health with the housing security of its most vulnerable families.
Original reporting: The Washington Informer — read the source article.
