Anything in NE DC used to be a war-zone, but as we conservatives know, Washington DC gets first dibs on all our money, so many parts of the city that were tough have been gentrified with the continuous influx of lobbyists, government apparatchiks and crony capitalists - recession never seems to hit the nanny-state.
Trinity is in the Columbia Heights area - a lot of young professionals, still mixed neighborhoods. Its also very close to Catholic University. I don’t know much about Trinity and Catholic per se - perhaps they share campus security - but if he’s on a campus, then I assume the housing is very safe.
If he’s got cheap, convenient housing in DC, that’s a big deal - rents have continuously risen over the past years
I lived in DC in the 80’s and early 90’s and go back regularly. It is still a lovely city. It had a slow, smaller Southern city gentility up until WWII and even beyond, and if you look, there are spots where it still feels that way. Otherwise, very cosmopolitan, lots to do, very green, very convenient - and its the political (and now economic) center of the USA, of course.
He should be fine - just like most big cities, just be smart, don’t overly expose yourself, learn your surroundings.
I am trying to get the Hell out of this area, I made a big mistake when I traded N.H. for D.C., this place sucks.