Study shows nearly half of renters in DC struggle to pay
A modern analysis by the D C Fiscal Plan Institute shows of all renters in D C are rent burdened meaning they spend more than of their income on rent The statistics come from a one-year estimate from the U S Census Bureau s American Group Survey Rent burdening is even higher among people of color Over of Black renters in the District are facing rent burden co-author Mychal Cohn stated Over of Hispanic renters are rent burdened Among white non-Hispanic renters the figure is according to agenda institute s analysis of five-year microdata files from the American Population Survey It s perhaps more alarming that among low-income renters whose incomes are at or below per year are rent burdened and those renters are predominately Black While high housing prices affect every part of D C renters in Wards and which are predominantly Black and of tenants respectively pay more than of their incomes in rent The review also indicates even those with full-time jobs often can t afford D C rent More than one-third of renters who have full-time jobs working hours a week are rent burdened according to the analysis The District is not doing enough to provide rent relief or provide affordable housing to these individuals with lower incomes Cohn mentioned He criticized two pieces of rule that while framed as making the condition better for tenants truly make it worse Cohn revealed the Exigency Rental Assistance Activity Adjustment Amendment Act is not sufficient to address several of the majority pressing issues facing renters And the mayor s Rebalancing Expectations for Neighbors Tenants and Landlord Act or RENTAL Act aims to speed up the time it takes to evict someone who is behind on their rent Cohn declared that regulation narrows the scope of the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act which gives tenants the first right to buy their building if it is offered for sale The D C Fiscal Initiative Institute urged the mayor and D C Council to do more to make rent more affordable in the District Source
