UPDATE: The Urban Institute report on housing insecurity referenced in this report was “updated on November 28, 2023, to correct wording about the shares of people in DC experiencing housing insecurity who are children and youth and transition-age youth, add an endnote providing additional context for the survey weights used throughout the report, and clarify two percentages.” As a result, the following story has been updated to reflect the changes made to the report.
The housing crisis in the nation’s capital continues to worsen, according to experts.
A recent report from the Urban Institute has highlighted the alarming housing crisis in the nation’s capital. According to the Urban Institute, more than 82,000 District of Columbia residents do not have stable housing. Of the 82,000 residents facing housing insecurity, 82% of identify as either Black or Hispanic. Meanwhile, only 9% of those who are facing housing insecurity identify as white. However, Black and Hispanic residents make up 56.7% of the District’s population while white residents make up approximately 40% of the area’s population, according to the U.S. Census.
Digging deeper into the issue, the Urban Institute has also highlighted the housing issues facing residents 17 and younger. According to the report, children and youth make up 24% of people experiencing housing insecurity in the nation’s capital.
“We think that the report has some pretty dire findings, and that is even one of our most conservative [estimates] of housing insecurity,” Metropolitan Housing and Communities Policy Center Research Associate Lydia Lo told WAMU.
“One of the striking statistics that we didn’t enjoy finding but that was really illuminating is just, what resources and options you have to weather insecurity vary dramatically by race and by what kind of household you’re in.”
The Urban Institute’s report builds upon a number of others regarding the same or similar issues facing residents of the nation’s capital. Two months ago, a DCist report found that more than 44,000 D.C. residents spend more than half of their income on rent. Additionally, eviction filings increased 250% from January of 2022 to January 2023. Not to mention, nearly one-third of residents face food insecurity.
