D.C.'s Displacement Woes Spread to the Suburbs

"Everybody knows gentrification threatens to displace poor and working-class families in the District," says McCartney. "Less publicized, but equally severe, is the same danger in parts of the suburbs, especially in older neighborhoods inside the Beltway."

"Unless our region finds ways to preserve low- and moderate-cost housing in its center, we’re going to see an accelerating exodus of lower- and middle-class people to the outer suburbs," he explains. "That risks damaging our economy, by making it harder to fill service jobs, and worsening traffic."

In response to the growing crisis, 150 area nonprofit, private and faith-based organizations are joining together to help raise awareness of the importance of preserving low- and moderate-priced housing.