2025 Funding and Reform Priorities: D.C. Must Choose to Support Its People
Over the years, we have seen two categories of harmful responses when D.C. elected leaders claim, rightfully or not, that there are not enough resources to meet the pressing needs in the community: 1) cuts or underfunding of housing and human services programs, and 2) tightening of eligibility or reduction in legal rights of participants in those programs. Both of those responses reduce the number of people served without reducing the number of people in need of services, causing harm to D.C. residents.
This year and budget season, D.C. government faces some credible and unique challenges to its local budget. While we hope that the federal obstacles will be resolved soon, it is important to recognize and remember that our D.C. elected officials still have the power to make important choices during this budget season. Each year, the mayor and D.C. Council must make critical decisions regarding which program funding is cut or increased. Which communities are prioritized and burdened within the budget is a choice. As always, it is our duty as community members and advocates to persuade our local lawmakers to make the choice to prioritize human needs and to hold them accountable when they do not. D.C. must stand up for the needs of its residents, despite and because of the pending budget pressures.
The Legal Clinic continues to advance advocacy that centers housing, economic, and racial justice for D.C. residents and promotes strong legal protections and enforcement. Even when resources are limited, we endeavor to uplift the real and full need of the low-income, and primarily Black, community members who struggle the most to survive and maintain their lives in D.C.
Funding for human services and housing is (and should be) a significant percentage of D.C.’s budget because they are significant and critical resources for D.C. residents—and, even still, the funding supply is not currently enough to meet the demand. The funds and programs that keep people alive, protected, fed, and housed cannot continue to be the first and primary service provisions to be ransacked when cuts are on the horizon. D.C. residents deserve better. The mayoral administration and D.C. Council must choose better and resist reducing funds and programs that serve D.C.’s most marginalized residents.
Funding essential programs is critical, but D.C. must also ensure that funds are being used to serve communities well. Residents must be respected and protected, the provision of human services and housing must be high-quality, and programs must be available, accessible, and legally compliant. We join our community member, Way Home, Fair Budget, and Just Recovery DC campaign partners in urging D.C. government to always choose to support and invest in its people.
Check out Legal Clinic’s 2025 Funding and Reform Priorities and stay tuned for updates.
