Report finds half of Southwest Washington residents can’t afford housing, food, other necessities

Half of Southwest Washington residents don’t have enough money to afford basic necessities like housing and food, according to a report released last week.

Data from the Urban Institute shows a widening gap between Clark County residents’ earnings and the cost of living. Housing costs remain the largest obstacle for most Clark County residents, according to the report. And when broken down by ZIP code, some neighborhoods paint an even grimmer picture.