| The University of the District of Columbia (UDC), the only Congressionally created urban land-grant institution in the United States, is working to address the urban problems of Southeast Washington's Anacostia community (Ward 8), one of the most distressed areas of the city. With a population of approximately 61,000, Ward 8 has a small tax base due to the presence of a public hospital, a military base, a wastewater treatment plant, and other public institutions.
Ward 8 has a higher proportion of subsidized housing. The unemployment rate is 13 percent, with 56 percent of children from jobless families. Single women with children make up 60 percent of the households; single parents head 86 percent of all families. The median household income is $21,312 versus $70,400 in the metropolitan area; 35 percent of residents live below poverty level. The median age of the population is 27.8 with 45percent under age 20. Forty-two percent of adults do not have a high school diploma. Ward 8 has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in the city and double the city's crime rate. Homeownership is 13 percent compared to 39 percent for metropolitan Washington.
UDC is building a multipurpose facility that will provide recreational and educational activities for youth and a health program for elderly residents in Ward 8. This Historically Black Colleges and Universities activity involves a collaborative partnership with the public school system, a local community development corporation, and other community-based organizations.
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