ENROLLED ORIGINAL
A RESOLUTION
25-666
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
October 1, 2024
To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to amend the District of
Columbia Housing Finance Agency Act to extend the Reverse Mortgage Insurance
and Tax Payment Program, to include condominium fees and homeowners association
fees as approved uses of the financial assistance provided by the program, and to give
the District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency the discretion to issue greater
assistance if necessary.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution
may be cited as the “Reverse Mortgage Insurance and Tax Payment Program Extension
Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2024”.
Sec. 2. (a) The District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency’s (“DCHFA”) Reverse
Mortgage Insurance and Tax Payment Program (“ReMIT”) was designed to allow qualified
senior homeowners to receive financial assistance for property taxes, property insurance debts,
and certain property related expenses that have put the homeowner at risk of foreclosure on a
reverse mortgage.
(b) Under this program, qualified homeowners can receive assistance in the form of a
zero-interest loan. The program was initiated as an 18-month pilot program in the Reverse
Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention Amendment Act of 2018, effective October 30, 2018 (D.C.
Law 22-168; D.C. Official Code § 42-2703.07a), and funded with $500,000 in Fiscal Year 2019.
The pilot program was expected to expire on October 27, 2021, but was extended by Council
action. The most recent temporary legislation would expire on November 3, 2024.
(c) Councilmembers Anita Bonds and Robert C. White, Jr. introduced the permanent
Reverse Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention Program Amendment Act of 2023 on April 3rd, 2023
and a public hearing on that legislation was held on October 12, 2023, to prepare for permanent
passage.
(c) The ReMIT pilot program successfully assisted 31 District senior households with
avoiding displacement, allowing the seniors to stay in their longtime residences.
(d) The Reverse Mortgage Insurance and Tax Payment Program Extension Emergency
Amendment Act of 2024 will give DCHFA authorization to access any remining funds left from
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 ENROLLED ORIGINAL
the initial $500,000 appropriation to continue the program while the Council considers
permanent legislation.
(e) Continuing the ReMIT pilot program is important to ensure that eligible seniors can
receive the assistance they need to remain in their homes while the Council finishes
consideration of the permanent legislation.
Sec. 3. The Council determines that the circumstances enumerated in section 2
constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary that the Reverse Mortgage Insurance
and Tax Payment Extension Emergency Amendment Act of 2024 be adopted after single
reading.
Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
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