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Housing policies are central to the inclusiveness of a city. They define how residents share the wealth created by a city and how they access its assets and amenities. Public policies that control the housing supply and public investments in amenities and services such as schools, transportation, and infrastructure can play roles as strong as private wealth in defining the demographic make-up of the city. Population growth and demographic changes play out through the housing market and, when the housing is constrained, these forces further amplify gentrification, economic segregation, and displacement.

Our work on housing focuses on the relationship between housing policy and opportunity, examining how housing policies shape the District of Columbia, and how they can be improved to create a more vibrant city.

About our namesake, Charles “Sandy” Wilkes 

In March 2025, the Housing Policy Initiative at the D.C. Policy Center was relaunched as The Wilkes Initiative for Housing Policy, in honor of Founding Chairman Charles “Sandy” Wilkes. This renaming reflects Sandy Wilkes’s visionary leadership and deep commitment to advancing housing solutions that create a more equitable and prosperous District of Columbia. 

Under Sandy’s leadership, the D.C. Policy Center has become a leading voice in independent, data-driven policy research, shaping the conversation on housing affordability, economic growth, and opportunity for all in the District. His dedication to evidence-based policy and his unwavering belief in the power of research to drive meaningful change has left an indelible mark on the organization and the broader D.C. community. 

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Advisors

Our research is guided by a group of professionals and researchers with deep knowledge of D.C.’s housing market and programs.

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