First, if you have only one minute, go here and sign on.
Next, according to an article reported in Politico yesterday, HUD is planning to impose deep cuts to CoC funding. As summarized by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, this includes:
- Permanent Housing Cap: HUD intends to cap the total amount of funding that each CoC can use for permanent housing to only 30 percent of CoC funds. Currently, 87 percent of all CoC-funded projects are for permanent housing (Permanent Supportive Housing and Rapid Re-Housing). This change alone would result in the loss of permanent housing assistance for more than 170,000 people nationwide, including older adults, people with disabilities, veterans and families with children. Nearly every CoC in the country will be negatively impacted by this change.
- Anti-DEI Criteria: Organizations that previously used any type of racial preferences or recognized gender non-conforming or transgender people will have points deducted.
Act: Tell Congress to keep the pressure on HUD to reverse course using this advocacy tips sheet.
Read more from the National Alliance here.
Federal Government Shutdown
The National Low Income Housing Coalition provided this update this morning:
“The federal government entered a partial shutdown at midnight this morning after negotiations over a short-term funding bill did not result in an agreement for the new fiscal year.
This shutdown brings additional uncertainty to an already precarious housing ecosystem. A recent Office of Management and Budget memo instructs federal agencies to furlough non-essential staff and consider permanent layoffs. Since January, an estimated 2,300 HUD employees, or 23% of the agency’s workforce, have left. These reductions are straining the remaining staff’s ability to perform core functions efficiently.”
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Stay tuned for additional information. For now, take this action and reach out to your Congresspeople to let them know this must not stand!
