Trump Administration Plans Deep Cuts to Federal Homeless Housing Programs Impacting 170,000

The Trump administration is proposing significant cuts and policy changes to federal housing assistance programs, including the Continuum of Care (CoC) program, which currently supports permanent housing for the homeless. Funding for permanent housing under CoC could be reduced by more than half, shifting funds towards transitional housing with requirements such as work or services, a move that experts warn could increase homelessness, especially in rural areas lacking alternative funding sources. Additionally, unpublished draft rules seek to impose strict work requirements, time limits on public housing, and deny aid to families if any member is undocumented, potentially affecting up to 4 million people. Advocates and experts warn these policies risk causing widespread hardship, including increased homelessness, job loss, and family disruptions, amid an already challenging housing landscape with high rents and homelessness rates. HUD officials defend the changes as a necessary paradigm shift aimed at promoting recovery and self-sufficiency rather than permanent government dependence on housing aid. Critics argue these reforms could dismantle critical social safety nets and push vulnerable populations back onto the streets.