News & Insights
Photo courtesy of: Greg Land
Initiative accelerates renovations to expand safe, affordable housing
For years, rows of apartments and townhomes across Washington, D.C. sat empty—quiet reminders of the housing shortage facing the city. Families waited for their chance at safe, affordable homes, while units in need of repair remained locked and unused.
In 2023, the District’s housing authority decided it was time to change that story. With the launch of its Vacant Unit/Make Ready (VUMR) program, the agency set out to breathe new life into more than 40 properties throughout the city. The goal was simple but urgent: turn vacant units into livable homes as quickly and efficiently as possible.
The effort began with a massive sweep of inspections, as teams moved from property to property cataloging what each unit needed to become habitable again. Some required simple repairs; others demanded more intensive renovations. From there, the program team coordinated closely with contractors, defining clear scopes of work, setting timelines, and making sure every project met quality and safety standards.
By treating the campaign like a citywide relay race—inspection passing the baton to renovation, renovation passing it to final clearance—the housing authority kept the momentum going. Progress was tracked in real time, with month-by-month data showing how many homes were coming back online. Each new set of keys handed to a family marked not just another completed unit, but another step toward easing the city’s housing challenges.
The results speak for themselves. Hundreds of homes have already been restored and reoccupied, with the pace of unit turnover accelerating through 2024 and 2025. What were once empty spaces are now front doors opening to new beginnings.
To help guide the process, the housing authority turned to B&D. Our role was to keep schedules tight, contractors accountable, and the overall campaign moving forward, so that the Authority could stay focused on what matters most: serving District residents.
This is more than a construction story. It’s a story about neighborhoods revived, about families finally crossing the threshold into homes they’ve waited for, and about a city working to match its resources with its residents’ needs. The VUMR campaign shows what happens when determination meets organization: vacant buildings become vibrant homes, and the District becomes a little stronger with every unit restored.
To learn more about DCHA’s ongoing efforts, click here.
