A resident of the L Street homeless encampment celebrates getting keys to her own apartment through D.C.’s Pathway to Housing. Tyrone Turner / WAMU/DCist

Like many metropolitan areas, the D.C. region has long struggled to address homelessness and its underlying causes. As we have for the past six years, WAMU/DCist is collaborating with Street Sense Media and other local news organizations on an extensive collection of stories documenting homelessness, housing, and poverty in the D.C. region.

For the first time, this year’s project spans an entire week. New stories will publish on this page and broadcast on WAMU 88.5 every day from Tuesday through Friday. Residents are also joining us for an in-person discussion of affordable housing in Montgomery County on Tuesday (Oct. 11) with Kojo In Our Community. The discussion will be recorded and broadcast on WAMU Friday (Oct. 14) at 1 p.m.

Modeled on a similar “media blitz” in San Francisco, Street Sense Media, ThinkProgress, and DCist launched the project in 2016 to investigate solutions to homelessness in the nation’s capital for a day. The number of participating outlets continues to grow, and has included Washington City Paper, The DC Line, The Washington Blade, and The Washington Informer.

In This Series

May 23, 2022, 11:53 am

‘It’s Fight Or Flight Out Here:’ What It’s Like To Be An Unhoused Woman In D.C.

While far fewer women than men are in D.C. are homeless, they face a host of unique challenges when it comes to staying safe, finding a place to sleep, and accessing housing.

May 23, 2022, 11:53 am

As Climate Change Increases Extreme Rain And Flooding, D.C.’s Most Vulnerable Residents Pay The Price

D.C.’s unhoused residents already have limited resources in the face of extreme weather. A warming climate is set to make the problem much worse.

May 23, 2022, 11:53 am

At This Alexandria Community, The Challenges Of Mobile Home Ownership Are Thrown Into Sharp Relief

Mobile homes are the largest source of unsubsidized affordable housing In The U.S. — but residents of Harmony Place fear being pushed out.

May 23, 2022, 11:53 am

Without COVID-Era Protections, Evictions In The Region Are Ticking Up

Evictions in the D.C. region are at their highest level since the pandemic began, thanks to rising rents and the expiration of COVID protections.

May 23, 2022, 11:53 am

D.C. Scrambled To Shelter Unhoused Residents In Hotels After COVID Hit. What Did We Learn From PEP-V?

The future of the program remains unclear. But advocates say its success is a lesson learned.

May 23, 2022, 11:53 am

In Fight Against Homelessness, Advocates Say Tax Hike On Wealthy Is ‘Gamechanger’

A new tax increase on wealthy D.C. households will bring in more than $100 million in 2022 — a portion of which will fund new housing programs.

May 23, 2022, 11:53 am

For ‘Wine Down Jazz Night’ Host, Helping Unhoused Single Mothers Is Personal

Skyler Kelley is working to open a nonprofit for people like her: single mothers who’ve experienced homelessness in D.C.

May 23, 2022, 11:53 am

‘Trying To Chase A Train’: Fairfax’s Effort To Vaccinate Unhoused Residents

About 50% of the unhoused population that uses county services are vaccinated. But county public health workers aren’t quitting.

May 23, 2022, 11:53 am

D.C. Continues Encampment Cleanups During The Pandemic Despite CDC Guidance

The District is one of many cities across the country that have continued carrying out full homeless encampment cleanups during the public health emergency.

May 23, 2022, 11:53 am

How To Vote Without A Home Address? D.C. Groups Worked To Register People Experiencing Homelessness

Pathways to Housing spent two months registering people experiencing homelessness to vote, helping them navigate forms and offering them a mailing address where they could get their ballots.