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CIAO DATE: 5/5/2007
Reducing Poverty in Washington, D.C. and Rebuilding the Middle Class from Within
Martha Ross, Brooke DeRenzis
March 2007
Abstract
Washington’s future as a vibrant, inclusive city depends on its commitment to rebuilding the middle class from within. The District has experienced job growth, big increases in city revenues, and remarkable commercial and residential development over the past several years. Still, one out of every three DC residents is low-income, and many residents live in areas of concentrated poverty. More than most cities, Washington is a city of high and low incomes, with a small and declining middle class.
This report recommends a focused effort to help the city’s low-income residents move into the middle class over the next few years. The strategy’s primary emphasis is on increasing the skills, employment, and earnings of at least 10,500 low-income, less-skilled individuals over seven years— an ambitious goal given the capacity of the city’s current workforce development system. Work supports and housing assistance bolster this work-focused strategy.
