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What does AHRA offer?

This program is designed to help you: 

  • Understand the Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) and how they apply to your building(s) 
  • Uncover energy-saving opportunities in your building(s) 
  • Access resources – including financing opportunities and financial incentives – to help you pay for upgrades that will aid in reducing energy use 
  • Identify a pathway to and meet BEPS compliance as determined by The Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) 
  • Cut your energy costs, run your building more efficiently, and reduce your greenhouse gas emissions 
Façade of an older brick multifamily building in DC during the sunset.

Eligibility

To benefit from AHRA assistance, a building must first qualify as affordable multifamily housing. To do this, it must be primarily residential and contain 5 or more subsidized or unsubsidized dwellings.

Additionally, one of the following is required:

  • The building must feature restrictions or other covenants requiring that at least 50% of all units are occupied by households with incomes less than or equal to 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI)
  • The building owner must demonstrate that rent levels in at least 50% of all units are affordable to households with incomes less than or equal to 80% of the AMI.
  • AHRA assistance is subject to funding availability and is presently prioritized for affordable multifamily buildings that measure 50,000 square feet or greater and fail to meet BEPS compliance.
A large multifamily building façade in DC with repeating balconies.

1. Income Guidelines for FY 2025*
(October 1, 2024 - September 20, 2025)

Affordable Home Retrofit Accelerator Income Table

Household Size

Maximum Annual Income

1

$86,650

2

$99,000

3

$111,400

4

$123,750

5

$133,650

6

$144,550

7

$153,450

8

$163,350

2. Rent Level Guidelines for FY 2025*
(October 1, 2024 - September 20, 2025)

Affordable Home Retrofit Accelerator Maximum Rent Table

Bedrooms

Maximum Rent

Efficiency

$1,900

1 br

$2,030

2 br

$2,430

3 br

$2,850

4 br

$3,250

*Household income amounts listed in this table are effective as of 08/30/2024 and are subject to change. Please visit the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) website for the most up-to-date numbers. Buildings meeting the above income amounts will remain eligible for assistance even if DHCD's income amount guidelines decrease during FY 2025.

Find out if you qualify for Affordable Housing Retrofit Accelerator assistance

Fill out the form below to find out if your affordable multifamily building qualifies for enhanced assistance under the District’s Affordable Housing Retrofit Accelerator program.

Take the AHRA Training

To qualify for technical assistance and financial incentives under the Affordable Housing Retrofit Accelerator, all designated representatives of buildings that did not meet the District's Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) must verify that they have completed the required video training. Please view the video in its entirety and fill out the web form to complete training verification.

Learn more
Back of an affordable multifamily building with two sets of three mini split heat pump compressors.

Impact Stories & Resources

See our impact stories and take advantage of resources that make upgrades for affordable housing a breeze.

“

Paradise at Parkside

We're doing two things. We're providing better, less expensive heating and cooling for the residents, but also replacing units completely and cutting down our repair costs and replacement costs.

- Fred Killian

CT Group, Regional Property manager

Find a Contractor

We have DCSEU-authorized implementation contractors, auditors, and performance testing contractors that support your affordable property through the retrofit accelerator process.

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