The Coalition on Human Needs (CHN) is a left-of-center advocacy group headquartered in Washington, D.C., that promotes funding of domestic welfare programs by the federal government and opposes Republican-backed proposals to cut or reform entitlement programs.

The group was founded in 1981 in opposition to President Ronald Reagan’s proposal to consolidate funding of many welfare programs into block grants and has continually advocated for the expanding funding of many welfare programs within government funding bills. The organization is funded by left-leaning advocacy groups and labor unions such as the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME); the Center for Popular Democracy; the Center for American Progress; and the National Education Association. ^{1 2}

Background and History

The Coalition on Human Needs was founded in 1981 by left-leaning organizations and labor unions opposed to a proposal by the Reagan administration to “consolidate federal funding for human needs programs into block grants.” The organization promotes the expansion of many federal government welfare programs such as food stamps, as well as the expansion of the Affordable Care Act and the child tax credit. Throughout its history, the organization has consistently supported Democratic efforts to increase spending on entitlements and has generally opposed Republican-led efforts to reform or make cuts to federal spending on entitlement programs. ^{2 3}

Policy Stances

The Coalition for Human Needs has supported increased funding for many programs including food stamps, the expansion of the child tax credit, and expanding state-level Medicaid programs under the Affordable Care Act. It also has supported left-of-center immigration policy. ⁴

On immigration, the organization criticized the Biden administration’s use of Title 42 at the U.S.-Mexico Border, claiming that the policy is “inhumane and is a Trump-era policy that disproportionately harms Black and Brown migrants.” The organization signed a letter that called on the Biden Administration to end restrictions on “asylum seekers traveling through other countries.” ⁴

The organization supports the continual increase or suspension of the federal debt limit, calling on Congress to increase or suspend the debt limit at the end of 2022. ⁵ The organization also issued mixed reviews of the FY2023 omnibus government funding bill passed in December 2022, criticizing Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and other Republicans for insisting on ratcheting down funding for domestic welfare programs, calling the Republican priorities a “Grinch-y approach to the nation’s needs.” ³

Affiliated Organizations

Organizations that are listed as members of the Coalition on Human Needs include 9to5, AFSCME, the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities, Americans for Democratic Action, the Campaign for America’s Future, Catholic Charities USA, the Center for American Progress, the Center for Economic and Policy Research, the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, Food Research and Action Center, the Economic Policy Institute, Friends Committee on National Legislation, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the National Education Association, UnidosUS, the Salvation Army, and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). ¹

1. “About.” Coalition on Human Needs. Accessed January 21, 2023. https://www.chn.org/about/
2. “Issues.” Coalition on Human Needs. Accessed January 21, 2023. https://www.chn.org/issues/
3. “The Good, The Bad, and The Bitter: The Fy23 Omnibus Package.” Coalition on Human Needs.  December 20, 2022. Accessed January 21, 2023. https://www.chn.org/voices/the-good-the-bad-and-the-bitter-the-fy23-omnibus-package/
4.  Espinoza, Dominique. “Biden Administration Offers Mixed — and Disappointing — Steps on Immigration. Coalition on Human Needs. January 13, 2023. Accessed January 21, 2023. https://www.chn.org/voices/biden-administration-offers-mixed-and-disappointing-steps-on-immigration/
5. “November 2022 Debt Limit Letter with Signers.” Coalition on Human Needs. Accessed January 21, 2023.  https://www.chn.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/November-2022-Debt-Limit-Letter-With-Signers-Final.pdf