Community Resources
Note: this page is evolving and program details and resource information is subject to change without notice. Please check this page often to view changes, updates, and additions.
Elected Officials
Muriel Bowser is committed to making sure every Washingtonian gets a fair shot in a growing and prosperous Washington, DC. Her administration is focused on making DC’s prosperity more inclusive, advancing DC values, and building safer, stronger, and healthier neighborhoods across DC’s eight wards.
*Find out more about the Office of Mayor Bowser and the liaisons the represent Wards 4 and 5 by going to https://mayor.dc.gov/biography/muriel-bowser
Councilmembers
DC Councilmembers represent all of DC community by serving as the chief policy body for the District of Columbia. With of providing strong, innovative, and effective leadership for the benefit of residents throughout the city, the Council’s primary role as a legislative body is to make laws. Additionally, the council’s responsibilities include oversight of multiple agencies, commissions, boards and other instruments of District government.
Refer to the DC Council website to learn more about who represents Wards 4, 5, and the other Wards in our area.
Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC)
Unique to the District of Columbia, an Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) is a non-partisan, neighborhood body made up of locally elected representatives referred to as Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners. Commissioners serve a two-year term without pay and are elected during the November DC Elections on even-numbered years . The ANCs were established to bring government closer to the people, and to bring the people closer to government.
ANC 4B represents the neighborhoods of Brightwood, Lamond-Riggs, Manor Park, Riggs Park, South Manor Park, and Takoma.
The current ANC 3B commission address and meeting schedule may be viewed by going to the ANC 4B website.
ANC 5A represents the neighborhoods of Brookland, Fort Lincoln, Michigan Park, North Michigan Park, University Heights, and Woodridge.
The current ANC 5A commission address and meeting schedule can be found by viewing the ANC 5A website.
Public Safety
- Always call 911 for emergencies.
- Sometimes emergency calls are routed to Maryland. An alternative emergency phone number to ensure your emergency call goes to DC is (202) 265-9100.
- Lamond-Riggs is located in PSA 406, Sector 2, of DC’s Metroplitan Police Department Fourth District.
Refer to the Metropolitan Police Department Fourth District website for details regarding the services that are offered.
- DC Private Security Camera Rebate & Voucher Program
DC offers rebates and vouchers for residents to purchase and install security cameras on their property and register them with MPD. Visit the program website for more information.
- U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia (USAODC)
The U.S. Attorney for DC serves as both the local and federal prosecutor for DC.
Find information about the USAODC’s Community Outreach Programs, including seminars on financial crimes aginst seniors and elder abuse; Youth Engagement Programs; Reentry Outreach; and information about addressing nuisance properties and other public safety topics.
- Emergency Preparedness
The ReadyDC website from DC’s Homeland Security and Emergency Managment Agency offers great tips on preparing your family for an emergency.
Senior Services
- DC’s Department on Aging & Community Living offers a number of useful services to DC’s senior population and caregivers.
- Safe at Home Program DCOA recently announced a grant program to promote aging in place by providing home modifications for seniors aged 60 and older. Income restrictions apply. There is a waiting list for this program. For more information, visit the Safe at Home page, call (202) 724-5626, or email dacl@dc.gov
In-home Adaptations
Safe at Home provides in-home preventative adaptations to reduce the risk of falls. Examples include:
Handrails
Grab bars
Bathtub cuts
Shower seat
Furniture risers
Chair liftHome Security
Safe at Home’s Private Security Camera Program enable eligible DC seniors and residents with disabilities to receive a private security camera system without cost. This program is intended to help deter crime and assist law enforcement with investigations. Restrictions apply, click here for more information.
- Scams
Please be aware that a scammer is targeting seniors in the neighborhood. The Fourth District states: “It has been relayed to the MPD that there is a middle aged woman calling senior citizens in the Riggs Park area making appointments claiming to represent some type of community support activity. The woman reports for the appointment and is invited inside of the home by the resident. The woman then rummages through the house and leaves. Please be vigilant and also spread the word to your elderly neighbors that this maybe a scam. If this has occurred to you or your neighbor please call 911.”
Education
- Although Lamond-Riggs sits in both Wards 4 and 5, the in-boundary school zones for all neighborhood residents consist only of Ward 4 schools. http://find.myschooldc.org
- DCPS School Planning
Follow the DCPS Strategic School Planning team. The team is responsible for all new school openings as well as re-envisioning existing schools.
- Ward 4 Education Alliance
The Ward 4 Education Alliance brings together Ward 4 parents, students, educators, and community members to share information and advocate for continued improvement in the quality of education in Ward 4 DCPS schools. (Formerly ForWard4)
Neighborhood Resources
- Need bulk trash picked up? Want to request a trash can, zoned parking, stop sign, or crosswalk for your street? Need to report an abandoned car?
Call 311 or visit 311 online to request these and other city services.
- University of the District of Columbia-Community College (Backus Campus)
5171 South Dakota Avenue NE
Phone: (202) 274-7209
The Backus Campus is home to some of UDC-CC’s workforce development programs.
- DC American Job Center (Backus Location)
5171 South Dakota Avenue NE (enter on Hamilton Street)
Phone: (202) 576-3092
The American Job Center (part of DC’s Department of Employment Services) provides career counseling, resume assistance, job placement, vocational training, access to online services, information about local and national labor markets, and unemployment insurance.
- Bertie Backus Urban Food Hub
The Bertie Backus Urban Food Hub is a project of the UDC College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability, and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES). It resides at the UDC-CC Backus Campus on Galloway Street NE (off South Dakota Avenue). It currently includes a hydroponic garden, an aquaponics garden, and a community garden. At full build-out it will also include a compost cooperative, native plan nursery, incubator commercial kitchen, and farmstand or farmers market component. CAUSES relies on community volunteers to maintain the project.
- Capital Area Food Bank
EC Family Market Distribution: Free grocery pantry 3rd Thursday each month during the school year, 4:00 pm.
501 Riggs Road NE
Community volunteers welcome
- Food & Friends
219 Riggs Road
Provides home-delivered meals, groceries to go, and nutrition counseling for individuals living with chronic illnesses such as HIV and cancer by referral.
Volunteers welcome.
City Services
- Discount Utility Program, DC Department Energy & Environment
This program provides assistance to reduce utility costs for eligible homeowners.
- RiverSmart Program, DC Department Energy & Environment
For small copay, this program provides native bayscaping/rain garden, tree planting, rain barrel, and permeable pavers to reduce stormwater runoff.
- Books from Birth, DC Public Library
Provides one free book monthly to DC residents with children ages 0 – 5.
- Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP)
Provides down payment and closing cost assistance to eligible homebuyers.
- DC Open Doors
This program provides down payment assistance and low interest loans to eligible homebuyers.
- Single Family Residential Rehabilitation Program
This program provides grants for roof repair and home modifications for eligible homeowners