It's Good to Be DC!

Museums, parks, brunches, live music; the list of reasons to live in the District goes on and on (unless you’re looking for a thriving club scene, might want to try another city then), but there are a multitude of benefits that expand well beyond those that are easily observed.

Library Resources

DC’s public library system is a gem, with 26 locations dispersed throughout the diamond. While the usual services like checking out books, e-books and movies are available, the library system offerslearning resources like LinkedIn Learning, completely free of charge to card carrying members. Possessing a DC library card also unlocks access to thousands of newspapers and periodicals through the PressReader app. Moreover, if the library doesn’t have a book that you’re looking for, members are entitled to reciprocal benefits at neighboring library systems including Arlington and Montgomery Counties. You can either get what you’re looking for through an interlibrary loan, or you can acquire a library card from any of these systems. If this still isn’t enough to win you over, all library card carriers are allowed to print up to 20 pages free of charge each day.

Sports and Activities

Who doesn’t like a bit of activity on one of the many nice (though occasionally sweltering) summer days that the city gets. When you need a cold beer and a hot dog, what better way to get your fix than to spectate the city’s baseball team. With the District Tickets program, residents are able to snag tickets to any home game for as low as $5. The seats may be way up in the nosebleeds, but it’s still a hard to beat deal at that price. If you’re looking to do some biking around town, the DDoT E-Bike Incentive Program may be of interest to you. While the application window is closed for this year, be sure to check back near February when it usually opens again. Just remember, applying doesn’t guarantee that you’ll receive a voucher and you must purchase the e-bike from a participating retailer after you receive the voucher in order for it to be applied. Doing so may reward you for your patience with savings of $750 (or more)! Looking to cool down while you exercise? DC has a number of pools open to the public that are free of charge for residents. A few steps are required before you show up with your swimtrunks, but the process is pretty easy, and you’ll be splashing around in no time. Use the Department of Parks and Recreation Find a Pool tool to locate the nearest indoor or outdoor pool. Looking to stay out of the heat altogether and bathe in AC rather than water? The many museums of the city offer just the solution. It’s common knowledge that the Smithsonian Museums offer free entry to all, but there are other museums that grant free entry exclusively to residents of the city. A prime example is the Rubell Museum located in the SouthWest neighborhood. Boasting an enviable collection of contemporary and interactive art pieces, it’s a spot that shouldn’t be missed. Just be sure to bring a District of Columbia issued ID or a piece of mail with you to verify your District residency.

Health and Family

Sexual health is a critically important topic and one that doesn't always get enough attention. Using proper protection is a significant part of ensuring that you and your partner remain safe and there’s no better way to prevent the spread of STIs (as well as reducing the chances of pregnancy) than the usage of condoms. Unfortunately, these elastic prophylactics can be expensive or awkward to acquire, especially if they’re locked away at the local CVS where you need to call an employee over to get them. Never fear, there’s a program that will deliver them (both male and female varieties) straight to your home discreetly and completely free of charge. Just sign up on the SexualBeing site and get a package for your package straight away! And if something goes awry, and you notice that that last encounter has you burning, itching or otherwise in discomfort, then it’s time to utilize the city’s free STD checks. These tests can be done either at one of the city’s health centers, or in the privacy of your home with a mailed test kit. Go to https://www.getcheckeddc.org/ for more details! If you’ve already got little ones, or are expecting them, the city has you covered as well. Car seats are essential for keeping children safe while in a vehicle, but installing them can occasionally be rather tricky. That’s why, through the Car Safety Seat Program, residents can bring their car to the DMV’s 1001 Half Street SW inspection station to verify that the seat has been installed properly, or to have it installed there. DC based employers are subject to DC specific FMLA policies that are distinct and often more generous than the standard federal benefits. If both you and your employer are based in the District it is absolutely worth familiarizing yourself with these benefits and their conditions of eligibility.

Home

If your energy bill has ever inspired feelings of dread or despair, then the Solar for All program might be a good fit for you. In 2024, 50% of all of the energy generated within the city came from small-scale solar systems, think rooftop units of individual homes. This program helps subsidize the cost of installation of new solar units on residential homes. Note that the program does have an income limit, but even if you don’t qualify the page still has useful resources available for those who are interested in harnessing the power of the sun. Did you know that the city will pay for the cost of a new or replacement security camera? The Private Security Camera Rebate program will provide up to $500 for residential security cameras. Even better, this is available to both homeowners and tenants alike, just make sure you provide a letter of approval from the landlord approving the installation when you apply. There are some requirements in order to participate in the program, like registering the camera with the MPD, so make sure to read all of the terms on the program details page before applying. If you think about it, a city is an extremely dirty place. Between pollution from cars and litter, as well as chemicals including pesticides and fertilizer, there are a great deal of hazardous substances that lurk around us. And when it rains, stormwater runoff that doesn’t seep into the ground can sweep these toxins directly into the city’s rivers. Pavement is impermeable, and creates quite a current in these conditions, but there are a number of solutions that keep the water in the ground and not rushing along the streets. These solutions, subsidized by the RiverSmart program, offer solutions like rain barrels, rain garden installation and even shade tree planting at significantly reduced or even no cost to homeowners. Check out the program page for more details on how you can protect our rivers! Last and possibly the most important, is thelead pipe replacement assistance program. It’s no secret that with a city this old, that many of the buildings use lead pipes. As this plumbing deteriorates with time, lead can leech into drinking water which can cause a number of serious health problems as it accumulates within the body. Once an application is accepted, the city will pay for a building’s plumbing to be replaced with safe pipes as long as an eligible contractor is used. Also be sure to note that the program does not provide reimbursements, so the homeowner needs to complete the application process before any work begins.