Defeat Poverty

Did you know that approximately one-in-three DC residents without a college degree live below the poverty line? Did you also know that over 22 percent of DC residents with a high school diploma live in poverty? Compared to those with a college degree, these rates are significantly higher, as college graduates have a 5 percent rate of living in poverty in the District.

According to the DC Fiscal Policy Institute, poverty has jumped significantly in some areas since 2007. The highest poverty rates continue to be in Wards 7 and 8, where one-in-three residents lived below the poverty line in 2012.  This is substantially higher than the poverty rate of 27 percent in 2007.

As a part of the launch of Defeat Poverty DC, a panel of the campaign’s endorsers was formed to speak about several issues, including how to include the religious community in this action. Our Executive director, Valarie Ashley was a part of this discussion.