Publications

Our Research on the Greater DC region.

Research Report

Designing Accessory Dwelling Unit Regulations

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), or secondary housing units on residential lots, have the potential to increase housing supply in single-family neighborhoods without drastically altering the character of those neighborhoods.
Research Report

Using Centralized Lotteries to Measure Preschool Impact

A growing number of US cities are organizing common application systems for families seeking free public preschool for their children, and many use the deferred acceptance (DA) algorithm to assign students to schools that receive more applications
Research Report

Balancing Speed, Equity, and Impact during a Crisis

This report chronicles the genesis and evolution of the Greater Washington Community Foundation’s efforts to raise and coordinate funding from a wide range of individual and institutional donors to address the devast
Research Report

Who Wins the Preschool Lottery? Applicants and Application Patterns in DC Public Prekindergarten

Since 2014, the District of Columbia has used an annual common application to place new students from prekindergarten for 3-year-olds (PK3) through 12th grade in DC Public Schools (DCPS) and DC public charter schools.
Fact Sheet

Growing Youth Apprenticeship in Greater DC

Youth apprenticeships offer a meaningful link between high school and the workforce, with benefits for students, employers, educators, and the economy as a whole.
Brief

Washington Housing Initiative: Context and Contribution

Launched in 2018, the Washington Housing Initiative identifies and acquires rental properties in neighborhoods facing rising property values in the Washington, DC area, and keeps a majority of the apartments affordable for households with moderate
Research Report

A Preliminary Study of Service Use across Colocated Providers

Human services organizations that share space or “colocate” often reap benefits in property management, administrative services, and opportunities for collaboration.
Research Report

Three Decades of Mary's Center's Social Change Model

This report tells the story of the first 30 years of Mary’s Center, documenting its evolution from a basement clinic to a nationally recognized federally qualified health center (FQHC) serving nearly 55,000 participants in 2018.
Research Report

Meeting the Washington Region’s Future Housing Needs

The Washington region faces serious housing challenges that undermine many residents’ well-being. Constrained housing supply, coupled with regional growth, pushes up rents and prices for existing housing.
Research Report

An Assessment of the Need for Large Units in the District of Columbia

Though the District of Columbia has a substantial supply of large housing units with three or more bedrooms, those units are not meeting the needs of families with low incomes.
Brief

What Would Help DC Residents Have Greater Financial Security?

Washington, DC, is a city of contrasts with respect to residents’ financial security. While some residents are among the country’s most financially secure, others find it hard to make ends meet.
Testimony

Disaggregating Data by Race and Place in the District of Columbia

Leah Hendey, senior research associate, testified before the Council of the District of Columbia Committee on Government Operations hearing on racial equity.
Testimony

Historical Context of Racial Inequity in Washington, DC

Kilolo Kijakazi, institute fellow, testified before the Council of the District of Columbia Committee on Government Operations hearing on racial equity.
Research Report

Equitable Development and Urban Park Space

Results and insights from the first two years of implementation of the equitable development plan of DC’s 11th Street Bridge Park Project.
Research Report

Nontraditional-Hour Child Care in the District of Columbia

Finding high-quality child care that aligns with parents’ work schedules can be a significant barrier to successful employment and children’s healthy development.