DC should do what Montgomery County is doing to simplify subsidized housing

The Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County (HOC) is opening up a new website for low-income housing applicants, the Washington Post reports.
Instead of filling out separate paper forms, prospective residents can now apply for Section 8 housing — a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program that can cover up to 70 percent of rent for low-income residents — once and for all.
While their application gets processed, the County will also look up their eligibility for other assistance programs, like tax credits.
“We’re trying to change how people think about housing people,” HOC Executive Director Stacy Spann told the Post.
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The new portal, which will open on Monday, cost $150,000. It’s currently available in English and Spanish, and should include new languages soon.
This is a good example for the District, where Code for DC volunteers have teamed up with local community organization Bread for the City to similarly streamline the low-income housing application process through a web form.