A guide to giving and receiving help in D.C.
Where to find all kinds of assistance, from legal aid to food donations to political organizing.
Shortly after the 2024 election, we published a list of organizations and movements around D.C. where residents could funnel their money, time, and organizing power. Given that we're up against ... a lot ... over the next four years (and always), we updated and organized this list into a resource tool — one that we hope can connect you with what you need, whether you're looking to receive help or to give it.
This list is not exhaustive. Please send any additions to tips@51st.news.
Jump to focus area:
Children and families, Environment, Food, Health, Housing, Immigration, Labor, LGBTQIA+, Mutual aid, Political action and policy advocacy
Mutual Aid
Wards 1 - 6 each have their own mutual aid organizations, which coordinate aid and resources for neighbors. East of the River Mutual Aid assists residents in Wards 7 and 8.
Resource Generation's D.C. chapter is a multi-racial community of young people committed to re-distributing wealth, land, and power.
Political Action + Policy Advocacy
DC Justice Lab is a collection of lawyers and policy experts seeking to reshape D.C.’s criminal legal system.
Free DC is a political action campaign focused on protecting D.C.'s autonomy in the face of federal interference.
Harriet’s Wildest Dreams is a Black-led abolitionist group that organizes political actions and provides civic and legal aid to D.C.-area residents.
Movement Infrastructure Project is a volunteer, grassroots initiative provides resources, tools, and equipment, meeting spaces, and more to local activists and organizers.
Rising Organizers trains new and emerging activists in the D.C. area for free.
We Defend DC is a new organizing effort formed in the aftermath of the 2024 presidential election.
Food
Bread for the City provides food, healthcare, and wraparound services to low-income and unhoused D.C. residents.
Feed the People DC distributes meals and supplies every weekend to residents in Dupont Circle. (They post the specific items they’re looking for weekly on their Instagram.)
Food Not Bombs provides weekly meals to unhoused residents in downtown D.C.
Food for All DC is a volunteer-run group that provides meals to people across D.C.
Miriam’s Kitchen supports residents with meals, bathrooms, and other social services.
ReDeliciousDC is a food lab co-op that takes food waste from local farms and businesses and redistributes it to the community.
Remora House distributes money and supplies to homeless encampments in D.C.
Thrive DC supports unhoused residents by providing clothing, meals, toiletries, and wraparound services.
Impact Fellowship distributes food and care packages to unhoused people in Franklin Square twice per month.
Housing
Furnish Hope DC provides gently used furniture to residents of wards 7 and 8 who are transitioning out of homelessness or escaping domestic violence.
Landlord Tenant Legal Assistance Network (LTLAN) is a referral hotline for eviction defense in D.C., where low-income tenants can get free legal advice and representation. Tenants who make more than the income threshold for LTLAN should check out the Landlord Tenant Resource Center run by the DC Bar Pro Bono Center.
Legal Aid DC provides free civil legal services to low-income D.C. residents and advocates for policy change.
Mi Casa provides technical assistance and training to low-income tenant groups exercising their right of first purchase under TOPA.
ONE DC assists residents looking to organize a tenants' union.
Stomp Out Slumlords is Metro DC DSA's anti-eviction and tenant-organizing project.
Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless provides low-barrier legal assistance for homeless residents or residents at risk of becoming homeless. They also offer volunteer opportunities for lawyers and residents looking to advocate on housing policy.
Immigration
Ayuda provides legal, social, and language services to low-income immigrants in the D.C. area.
DC Migrant Mutual Aid is a collection of volunteers who support migrants arriving in D.C.
Homes Not Borders helps refugees and asylum seekers get settled in new homes. Donations can go directly toward gas, moving costs, or furniture.
Many Languages One Voice organizes immigrant communities and their allies — particularly people with low English proficiency — to become civically engaged in their communities. They also provide direct cash assistance and at-home know-your-rights trainings.
Labor
DC Jobs With Justice is a coalition of labor organizations and community and student groups protecting the rights of workers.
The Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee supports workers looking to organize a union.
First Shift Justice Project provides legal assistance for workers in the D.C. area regarding health and family issues; for example, they work on cases of pregnancy discrimination, family responsibilities discrimination, family and sick leave, and accommodations for domestic violence.
Health
The DC Abortion Fund helps people across the country get an abortion.
EC4DC is a new mutual aid organization supplying D.C. residents with free Plan B. (You can donate directly or sign up to create a new distribution site.)
HIPS DC is a harm reduction and advocacy organization that supports sex workers and people who use drugs.
La Clínica del Pueblo provides various health and medical services to D.C.'s Latino community, in addition to programming specifically for LGBTQ+ residents.
Children and families
The Latin American Youth Center provides housing, health and wellness care, academic support, and job training (among other services) to low-income and LGBTQ+ youth.
Mothers Outreach Network offers legal advice, representation, and know-your-rights outreach events to parents facing allegations of child abuse or neglect. (They are also currently accepting donations for their guaranteed income pilot program, MotherUp, which gives cash directly to low-income mothers.)
Playtime Project provides structured play to children living in emergency housing shelters, domestic violence shelters, subsidized housing sites, and other community sites across D.C. and Prince George's County.
LGBTQIA+
The DC Center offers peer support groups, sexual health services including HIV testing, clothing and food, and free mental health services to LGBTQ+ residents.
DC LGBTQ+ Budget Coalition is a collection of queer and ally organizations that advocates for D.C. budget spending to support LGBTQ+ residents.
Rainbow Families provides support groups, playgroups, trainings, and other resources for LGBTQ+ families and parents (or parents-to-be).
SMYAL supports LGBTQ+ youth with housing, mental health, and other resources.
Environment
Chesapeake Climate Action Network organizes and advocates for clean energy and environmental justice in the D.C. area.
Sunrise Movement DC is a collective of young people organizing around climate policy and liberation.
Looking for more resources? Return to the top or read more of our D.C. Explained guides.
