The Trump administration’s actions could have a wide-ranging impact on all sorts of federal assistance programs, and housing advocates on Tuesday expressed concern over the impact on housing.
Important federal programs managed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), crucial for the well-being of our communities, are now under threat. This includes programs such as Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and Project-Based Rental Assistance, which millions of low-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities depend on for affordable housing.
YIMBY Action stated on Tuesday that the funding freeze is expected to also affect Homeless Assistance Grants and Eviction Prevention Grants, which provide funding for shelters, outreach programs, and permanent supportive housing for individuals facing homelessness, as well as assistance for families to remain in their homes.
Additionally, YIMBY Action said that “we expect the funding freeze to impact specialized programs for the elderly, those with disabilities, those living with AIDS, and Indigenous people, which provide targeted assistance to our most vulnerable neighbors.”
“This unprecedented funding freeze, taking place in the midst of a historic nationwide housing shortage, will have devastating consequences for every member of our society, especially those already facing housing insecurity,” said Laura Foote, the Executive Director of YIMBY Action. “Everyone who relies on affordable housing production is damaged by this arbitrary and capricious action, from the senior citizens living in subsidized housing to the corporations who rely on predictable contracts to deliver the homes we desperately need. At a time when housing costs are prohibitively expensive for so many, this is a devastating blow that will only make our economic conditions worse.”
National Housing Law Project Executive Director Shamus Roller called the move “illegal and dangerous,” noting it would halt trillions of dollars in federal grants and loans, and undermines the federal government’s crucial role in providing stability for millions of working individuals and families.
“The United States has the resources to ensure that every single one of us has housing, education, health care, a good-paying job, and a safe community,” Roller said. “Trump is asserting powers he does not have in an attempt to wrest power from Congress and the people. This directive is a clear violation of federal law.”
Roller criticized the Trump administration for “messy drafting and conflicting messages” that they believe have “spread strategic chaos with real consequences.”
The result is, they said, “Organizations serving seniors, people on fixed incomes, children, survivors of gender-based violence, and people of color are being forced into financial crises. “
For housing advocates, the impact of these funding freezes is potentially staggering.
YIMBY Action said, “Withholding these resources jeopardizes the stability of millions of Americans, halts the production of desperately needed affordable housing, and undermines local efforts to address homelessness.”
Advocates believe vulnerable populations are particularly at risk of experiencing both the immediate and long-term impacts of this policy, yet the funding freeze will inevitably create a ripple effect on housing affordability for all Americans.
“The Trump administration does not have this power, and must immediately reverse this illegal action,” Shamus Roller said. “NHLP will closely monitor the directive’s impacts on housing programs, protect tenants and homeowners, and do everything we can to keep people safe and stably housed.”
“YIMBY Action urges the administration to immediately reverse this destructive funding freeze,” said Jae Garner, YIMBY Action’s Director of Communications. “We cannot afford to let this administration dismantle the safety net for millions of Americans, especially as housing costs and homelessness continue to rise. Every day that this freeze remains in place risks worsening this crisis.”
I think reassessing funding and grants is a good thing. There’s so much waste, for instance “in her first-ever briefing Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the OMB found “that there was about to be $50 million taxpayer dollars that went out the door to fund condoms in Gaza.” I mean seriously?
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/state-dept-pulls-millions-funding-condoms-gaza-trump-admin-looks-trim-spending
Sure. But you can’t undo legislation with an executive order.
How much more of these types of examples of waste are there? I say numerous.
$50 million here, $50 million there, all of a sudden we’re talking big money.
You can’t undo legislation with an executive order.
Can you undo legislation with an executive order?
You can undo an executive order with legislation or through the courts
This assertion is without evidence and is almost certainly a lie.
Going down the rabbit hole, Don. But here: “Review of USAID records shows no condom shipments to enclave, with only Middle East delivery being $45,680 shipment to Jordan in 2023”
None of this has anything to do with this article.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congressional_Budget_and_Impoundment_Control_Act_of_1974#Impoundment
Yes, it’s almost certainly illegal. But disruption is the point, not whether it will be effective or has any legal basis.
Happened to be meeting with the chief yesterday on another matter and he pointed out all of the federal funding they rely upon.
“Happened to be meeting with the chief yesterday . . . ”
The “chief” ? The chief of what?
chief of police
It’s not just housing, it will impact all kinds of non-profits (which are primarily left-leaning organizations) if implemented. Any chance this will impact the Vanguard itself?
Well that lasted long: “The White House Office of Management and Budget has rescinded the federal aid freeze, according to a memo from a Trump administration official obtained by CNN.”
But it was enjoyable watching democrats get all worked up over it.
It wasn’t just Democrats. Must be nice to be retired and not have your entire day upended by something crazy like this. Maybe you should talk to the Police Chief about how it impacted him and then talk about your entertainment.
Oh and all those folks who thought they were going to have their life sustaining medications cut off. Yeah, that was a real hoot.
I think you’re being overly dramatic here:
“Individual federal assistance programs — such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP, and other important programs — are explicitly excluded, as was made clear by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and a memo from the Office of Management and Budget. Only unnecessary spending — such as DEI, the Green New Scam, and funding nongovernmental organizations that undermine the national interest — are included in President Trump’s directive.”
You know how long it took them to issue that communication? You seem to have no idea what impact this stuff has when they put out half-baked announcements
This is what The NY Times noted: “ The order, issued Monday night, was an attempt to purge the government of what President Trump has called a “woke” ideology. A federal judge in the District of Columbia temporarily blocked it Tuesday afternoon, but the lack of clarity sent schools, hospitals, nonprofits and other organizations scrambling to understand if they had lost their financial support from the government.”
Keith says: “I think you’re being overly dramatic here”
I suspect he’s being “purposefully” over-dramatic.
But it is kind of interesting to see what Trump is “testing”. Realistically, he doesn’t have more than a couple of years to try such things. Apparently, he was making such plans before taking office. (He is definitely not wasting as much time on social media, as he did last time.)
“I suspect he’s being “purposefully” over-dramatic.”
Yeah, it’s not the first time.
And yes Ron, Trump is not messing around. He took office up and running and means business.
“Important federal programs managed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), crucial for the well-being of our communities, are now under threat.”
If by “our communities” you mean developers and employees in nonprofits that benefit in the billions from federal programs to continue their existence and subsidy (power), then you are correct. A start in dismantling the Homelessness Industrial Complex. Dismantling California’s version — a tougher rock to crack.
I believe you’re referring to the (paid) “housing shortage people”.