About Councilmember Silverman

Elissa believes that a transparent governing process helps ensure all residents' voices are heard. She is committed to improving the quality of life for residents in all eight wards.

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Unemployment benefits

Information on unemployment benefits and related programs

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Keep up with the latest policy proposals and community news from Elissa and her team. You can even join our mailing list to receive Elissa's personal newsletter.

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Councilmember Elissa Silverman

Elissa Silverman is an at-large member of the D.C. Council and chair of Committee on Labor and Workforce Development. Elissa believes that a transparent governing process helps ensure all residents' voices are heard. She is committed to improving the quality of life for residents in all eight wards.

  • Latest News

    Final Remarks at the Last Legislative Meeting of Council Period 24

    Who would have thought, way back when, Chairman Mendelson, that you would be handing me a crystal bowl after serving as your at-large colleague for eight years on the D.C. Council?

    Life is surprising, and certainly my political career in D.C. local politics was unexpected, and, in many ways, inexplicable.

    For example, who would have predicted the October surprise of 2014 – Mayor-for-Life Marion Barry’s endorsement of me, a candidate whose initial campaign chair was Kathy Patterson?

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    Silverman Remarks in Opposition to D.C. Housing Authority Emergency Legislation

    Mr. Chairman, I unearthed this August 16, 1994 Washington Post story yesterday titled, “D.C. Housing Agency Hustles to Avoid Receivership Order.”

    Let me read a paragraph that might sound familiar: “Disrepair of units, rampant crime…continue to erode living conditions for the 30,000 residents of 60 public housing developments….About one-fifth of the 11,796 public housing dwellings in the District are vacant and in need of significant repairs.”

    And what does this story say? The Mayor argues about forward motion, important and meaningful reforms. And here we are, 30 years later, same situation.

    We’ve known about deplorable housing conditions and DCHA dysfunction for decades. The alarm has been on since 1994, but we tune it out except when the press amplifies it.  

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    Pinto, Silverman Propose Comprehensive D.C. Housing Authority Reform

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — D.C. Councilmembers Brooke Pinto (D-Ward 2) and Elissa Silverman (I-At-Large) on Wednesday announced legislation that will restructure, reform, and rebuild the D.C. Housing Authority from the ground up. 

    The legislation, which will be formally introduced Thursday, creates a housing authority with renewed focus on providing safe, dignified homes for low-income D.C. residents. It ensures that the redevelopment of housing authority properties prioritizes the needs of residents in search of deeply affordable housing in the District. It also strengthens the authority's board by requiring a diversity of expertise in low-income housing finance and development, public housing operations, legal services, and lived experience as a voucher recipient or current resident of public housing.

    “The reformed agency will prioritize the needs of our lowest income residents, have new operational requirements to ameliorate habitability and vacancy deficiencies, and ensure transparent stewardship of District assets,” Pinto said. “Our public housing residents, voucher holders, and constituents deserve transparency, input, and our sustained commitment to comprehensive reforms that make certain our public housing authority delivers safe and decent housing to extremely and very low-income residents.”

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  • Featured Page

    How to Extend Your UI Benefits

    If you applied for Unemployment Insurance (UI) at the beginning of the COVID-19 public health emergency (mid-March), you have likely exhausted or are about to exhaust your benefits. UI is designed to last for 26 weeks, but fortunately, there are additional 13-week extensions currently available. The extension is not automatic, however. UI claimants will need to apply and fill out an application to receive extended support.

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    Shared Work Unemployment Insurance Program

    If you are a DC worker affected by COVID-19, the District has programs that may be able to help, including the Shared Work Unemployment Insurance Program ("Shared Work"). Shared Work is a way for businesses in the District to keep employees on staff during the COVID-19 pandemic AND reduce payroll costs.

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    Paid Family Leave for DC Workers

    DC's Universal Paid Family Leave program is now live. This allows DC workers to take paid leave to care for a new child, a family member, or themselves.

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  • Featured Page

    Unemployment Insurance for DC Workers

    If you are an unemployed DC worker, including workers affected by COVID-19, the District has programs that may be able to help. Our strongest protection for District workers at risk of losing their paycheck is Unemployment Insurance (UI).

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