DHCD Schedules Public Hearing on FY 2027 Annual Action Plan and Funding Priorities

The District of Columbia's Department of Housing and Community Development has posted a public notice on the city's official website announcing a public hearing on the FY 2027 Annual Action Plan. The notice invites residents, community organizations and service providers to offer comments on the plan that will guide the District’s use of federal housing and community development funds for the coming fiscal year.

The department framed the hearing as part of the Annual Action Plan process that identifies funding priorities, program goals and proposed uses of federal grants. The notice directs interested parties to the department's webpage for full details on the hearing logistics, comment deadlines and any associated informational materials published with the draft plan.

How the Annual Action Plan fits into city planning

The Annual Action Plan is the operational document the District uses to allocate federal resources for housing, homelessness prevention, community development and related services. While the department’s notice does not by itself change funding awards, the hearing and the public comment period are the formal mechanisms for residents and stakeholders to influence priorities before the plan is finalized and submitted.

DHCD’s outreach typically draws local nonprofits, affordable housing developers, neighborhood groups and individual residents who want to weigh in on where grant dollars should be focused. The agency’s decisions affect programs and projects across neighborhoods citywide, including investments that can reshape housing development, tenant supports and community infrastructure.

Who should pay attention

Community groups, service providers, developers that rely on federal program dollars, and residents of affordable housing are among the primary audiences for the hearing. Local government agencies and advisory bodies that coordinate on housing and community development priorities also monitor the process because the Annual Action Plan informs how federal grants integrate with city-led initiatives.

The department’s online notice is the authoritative source for the hearing’s date, time, format and instructions for submitting written comments. Stakeholders who intend to participate should consult the DHCD webpage to register or to obtain the draft plan and supporting documents ahead of the session.

Public input from hearings and comment periods has in past cycles shaped program-level priorities and, in some cases, adjustments to proposed funding allocations. The DHCD hearing is therefore a practical avenue for community members to press for investments that reflect neighborhood needs.

Watch for the department’s follow-up communication after the hearing, when DHCD will incorporate feedback, finalize the plan and publish the version it will submit in compliance with federal requirements.