Homelessness is Not a Choice
Homelessness is a reflection of the severe shortage of affordable housing. It has been estimated that DC needs to build more than 30,000 units of deeply affordable housing (0-30% MFI) to meet the current need.
As housing costs continue to outpace local incomes, the door to prosperity has been closing on many who call DC their home.
Even before the COVID-19 crisis, much of our region was struggling.
1 in 100 DC residents
is experiencing homelessness on any given night.
Nearly 1 in 5 residents
reported they could only make it by for less than one month if they lost their current sources of household income.
Nearly 1 in 3 residents
reported being very or slightly worried about being able to pay their rent or mortgage on a good day.
Studies suggest that homelessness could increase by 45% as a direct result of the COVID-19 health and economic crisis.
Who experiences homelessness?
The lack of affordable housing disproportionately affects people of color. Although African Americans make up 47 percent of DC’s overall population, they represent 87 percent of people experiencing homelessness in DC.
If we want our city to be diverse, equitable, and inclusive, we have to prioritize housing as a fundamental investment that ensures the best outcome for everyone. If we want to build a region that continues to be vibrant and thriving, we must intentionally create a diverse mix of housing to meet the needs of all residents.
Families
768 families, including 1422 children, are experiencing homelessness in DC at any given time.
Women
Nearly one in three women experiencing homelessness in DC are homeless due to domestic violence.
Seniors
Over 50% of people experiencing homelessness are over 50 years old.
Students
A national study showed that 36% of students at colleges and universities do not get enough to eat and lack a secure place to live.
LGBTQ Youth
40% of all youth experiencing homelessness in our city identify as LGBTQ and have often been kicked out of the house by their parents.
Veterans
Six percent of adults experiencing homelessness in DC are veterans.
People of color
87% of homeless adults are black versus 47% of DC residents on the whole.
Low-wage workers
Nearly one in five homeless single adults (19%) are employed.
People with DC roots
More than a third of the city’s longtime residents are being pushed out because it’s too expensive to live here.
The majority of these findings were provided by the city’s Point-In-Time (PIT) Count, conducted every year in January, to collect a snapshot of the scope and scale of homelessness in our city to provide policymakers and funders with critical information on the number and demographic characteristics of the families and individuals who are experiencing homelessness.
