Washington, D.C.

The District of Columbia, named for George Washington and also referred to as the “federal city,” carries symbolic importance as the capital of the United States. Yet, the district’s long-standing impoverishment suggests a reality that falls short of ideals like democracy, inclusion, and opportunity. According to the DC Fiscal Policy Institute, from 2007 to 2009 the number of people living below the poverty line rose by an estimated 19 percent. In 2014, the poverty rate in Washington, D.C., was 19.2 percent, up 0.8 percent since 2008. Several past and present factors contribute to poverty in the district, including unemployment, unequal access to education, the structure of the D.C. city government, urban renewal and gentrification, and the district’s long history of social and spatial segregation.

Joblessness in ...