Domestic Human Needs Working Group

Interreligious Working Group on Domestic Human Needs of the Washington Interfaith Staff Community

Interreligious Working Group on Domestic Human Needs of the Washington Interfaith Staff Community

Domestic Human Needs
advocating for policies that improves people's lives
DHN Outlines Plans for 2026
Read our new article about DHN's priorities for the upcoming year.

Read Here

HUD May Not Honor the Two-Year FY24-25 Continuum of Care (CoC) Grant Process
Congress approved this process last year for homeless assistance programs, and faith-based providers have planned around those grants. Congress may instead begin a new FY25 funding opportunity and award process.
An estimated 170,000 people who experienced homelessness in the past could lose access to their current rental subsidy, housing, and services in 2026.

Read Our Letter to Congress Here
DHN seeks to promote policies that aim to eliminate the root causes of poverty and provide support for those currently experiencing poverty.
DHN acheives these aims through four subcommittees:
1. Tax, Appropriations, and Budget
Advocates for policies that promote human needs programs and tax justice with the belief that the federal budget is a moral document reflecting the priorities of our nation.
2. Hunger and Nutrition
Focuses on advancing policies that protect and strengthen federal nutrition assistance programs.
3. Housing and Homelessness
Committed to public policies and proven programs that reduce homelessness and increase affordable housing.
4. Labor and Education
Strives to ensure everyone has access to meaningful, dignified work with a livable wage, paid sick and family leave, and other means of empowerment in the workplace.
What We Do
We advance federal policies that will help eliminate the root causes of poverty and enable individuals to live with dignity, ensuring secure futures for themselves and their families.

The Interreligious Working Group on Domestic Human Needs (DHN) is one of the oldest working groups within the Washington Interfaith Staff Community, representing a wide variety of religious organizations and faith traditions. We might not agree on everything, but ending the poverty and hunger facing millions of Americans is a priority we all share. We advocate to lawmakers, connect our members to their representatives, and curate resources to inform our community members.
Pictured: staff from DHN member organizations praying outside the House Energy and Commerce committee room before a mark-up on a bill that would cut Medicaid funding. Photo credits: Hannah Santos, UCC.

Interreligious Working Group on

Domestic Human Needs

of the Washington Interfaith Staff Community

Interreligious Working Group on

Domestic Human Needs

of the Washington Interfaith Staff Community

Domestic Human Needs
advocating for policies that improves people's lives

DHN Outlines Plans for 2026

Read our new article about DHN's priorities for the upcoming year.

HUD May Not Honor the Two-Year FY24-25 Continuum of Care (CoC) Grant Process

DHN Letter on S. 2837

"The Protect America’s Workforce Act is a bipartisan piece of legislation which would reverse this Executive Order, and reinstate the collective bargaining agreements of those impacted by this order."

Through a Faithful Lens

DHN members joined the National Council of Churches for a webinar on discerning the moral costs of the budget reconciliation bill.

DHN seeks to promote policies that aim to eliminate the root causes of poverty and provide support for those currently experiencing poverty.

1. Tax, Appropriations, and Budget

2. Hunger and Nutrition

3. Housing and Homelessness

4. Labor and Education

What We Do

We advance federal policies that will help eliminate the root causes of poverty and enable individuals to live with dignity, ensuring secure futures for themselves and their families.

Interreligious Working Group on

Domestic Human Needs

of the Washington Interfaith Staff Community

Interreligious Working Group on

Domestic Human Needs

of the Washington Interfaith Staff Community

Domestic Human Needsadvocating for policies that improves people's lives

DHN Outlines Plans for 2026

Read our new article about DHN's priorities for the upcoming year.

DHN Letter on S. 2837

"The Protect America’s Workforce Act is a bipartisan piece of legislation which would reverse this Executive Order, and reinstate the collective bargaining agreements of those impacted by this order."

Through a Faithful Lens

DHN members joined the National Council of Churches for a webinar on discerning the moral costs of the budget reconciliation bill.

DHN seeks to promote policies that aim to eliminate the root causes of poverty and provide support for those currently experiencing poverty.

1. Tax, Appropriations, and Budget

2. Hunger and Nutrition

3. Housing and Homelessness

4. Labor and Education

What We Do

We advance federal policies that will help eliminate the root causes of poverty and enable individuals to live with dignity, ensuring secure futures for themselves and their families.

Domestic Human Needs
advocating for policies that improves people's lives