The Washington, DC–Maryland–Virginia region faces a deep and persistent challenge as food insecurity continues to affect more than a third of its residents. According to the Capital Area Food Bank, 36% of households in the DMV experienced food insecurity within the past year—nearly unchanged from 2024, yet significantly higher than the 32% reported just two years earlier—highlighting how widespread and entrenched the issue has become across the Washington metropolitan area. Food insecurity carries serious consequences beyond hunger, and is closely associated with chronic health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, developmental delays in children, asthma, weakened immune systems, and increased hospitalizations. At the same time, homelessness remains both visible and personal in the region: nearly one in three residents report personally knowing someone who has experienced homelessness or is at risk of becoming homeless. In 2024, the Point-in-Time Count identified 9,774 people experiencing homelessness across the region—a 12% increase from the previous year, representing more than 1,000 additional individuals without stable housing. Together, these realities underscore the urgent need for compassionate, community-based responses that address both immediate needs and long-term stability for our neighbors in the DMV.