FY 26 Budget Testimony: Department of Human Services

Policy Attorney Makenna Osborn testified before the Committee on Human Servies at the FY26 Budget Oversight Hearing for the Department of Human Services (DHS).

Adequately funding homelessness prevention services and housing programs that help families consistently afford rent is a cost-effective strategy for preventing childhood housing insecurity. At a time when the District faces a challenging financial outlook, our testimony urges the Committee to adequately fund the DHS programs that help DC families access and maintain housing security. We identify recommendations for how this Committee can amend the proposed FY26 budget to better meet the needs of our clients and other DC families by 1) gathering clear information from DHS on the costs per family across different housing resources and capacities for assistance in each program based on the Mayor’s proposed budget and 2) prioritizing funding for new long-term housing vouchers because they are the most effective for resource for extremely low-income families.