§ 4–281.03. Eligibility, enrollment, and program requirements.

(a) To be eligible to participate in the program, a household shall:

(1) Reside in the District;

(2) Be a low-income household at the time the household's initial eligibility is determined;

(3) Contain at least one individual who is currently participating in a housing assistance program administered by the District or federal government at the time that the household's initial eligibility is determined; and

(4) Meet any other eligibility criteria established by the Mayor by rule.

(b)(1) The Department may establish preference criteria and an application process and conduct a randomized lottery to select eligible households to participate in the program to aid in the evaluation of the program.

(2) The established preference criteria may:

(A) Factor in whether a household:

(i) Is participating in a time-limited housing-assistance program;

(ii) Includes children under the age of 18; and

(iii) Is willing to participate in career-related and other program activities; and

(B) Limit participation to households that are participating in one or more specific housing assistance programs at the time their initial eligibility for the program is determined.

(d)(1) A program participant shall remain eligible to participate in the program for no more than 5 years after enrollment regardless of income.

(2) To remain eligible to participate in the program, a program participant shall:

(A) Maintain residency in the District;

(B) Participate in any support services mandated;

[(D)] Meet other requirements and criteria established by the Department.

(3) Program participants must exit other housing-assistance programs upon enrollment in the program. A program participant shall cease to be eligible to participate in the program if, during the program participant's enrollment, any member of the program participant's household becomes enrolled in another District- or federal government-funded rental assistance program.