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 Wednesday.

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.

Ninety percent of low-income residents in the 98661 (which includes Minnehaha) and 98663 (which includes Vancouver’s Rose Village neighborhood) ZIP codes have trouble affording housing, while 80 percent of low-income residents of 98665 (which includes Hazel Dell) and 98686 (which includes Mount Vista) cannot keep up with the cost of living.