Mi Casa Kicks off Construction of Affordable Homeownership Project
Two Single-Family Homes Will Contribute to Very Affordable Homeownership East of the River

(Washington, DC) – A groundbreaking ceremony on November 14, 2019, launched the construction of two very affordable single-family homes in Ward 8 Historic Anacostia, a major step toward transforming these previously vacant properties into space where underserved families can live and thrive. The project is made possible by a partnership among Mi Casa, Inc., the DC Department of Housing and Community Development, and Local Initiatives Support Coalition DC (LISC DC).

Part of Mi Casa’s “Homes Within Reach” initiative, the projects will transform two long-vacant lots into two very affordable, energy efficient, historically styled homes for first-time home buyers. They will be priced to be affordable to households at or below 50% of the Median Family Income (MFI), which is $60,650 for a four–person household.

The four bedroom homes will provide 1,600 square feet of living space, suitable for families and multi-generational living. They will be fully accessible with adaptable first-floor living space and have rear yards and front porches. Both houses will be highly energy efficient, pursuing Nearing Net Zero Energy Consumption certification, built to produce nearly as much energy as they consume. Their design incorporates solar panels, high-efficiency building envelopes, durable materials, and water conserving landscaping so that energy targets on all levels will remain affordable over the life of the properties.

DHCD’s Property Acquisition and Disposition Division (PADD) awarded two lots located at 1928 15th Street SE and 1528 W Street SE to Mi Casa as part of the DC government’s commitment to the Historic Anacostia community and the city at-large to revitalize vacant properties, building them into usable space and increasing the supply of affordable housing throughout the District.

Speakers at the groundbreaking included DC Department of Housing and Community Development Director Polly Donaldson, Local Initiatives Support Corporation DC’s Executive Director Ramon Jacobson, and Anacostia ANC Commissioner Dorcas Agyei.

Mi Casa, Inc is a DC nonprofit affordable housing developer with 27 years of experience developing quality affordable single and multifamily owned and rental housing. Dozens of single family homes are among the more than 2,000 affordable units Mi Casa has built and preserved since its founding; this includes construction of seven similar family-sized homes in Ivy City as part of a city Special Demonstration Project greatly contributing to rebuilding vacant properties and providing essential affordable homeownership in that Ward 5 neighborhood.