Washington, D.C. – Late yesterday afternoon, a federal judge issued a temporary block on the Trump administration’s directive to all federal departments and agencies to freeze all federal assistance funding. The judge’s stay is in place until Monday, February 3, at 5 pm.
“The court’s decision gives advocates and congressional champions more time to oppose this extreme order, which could prevent states and local governments, nonprofit organizations, and low-income families from receiving the critical resources needed to address our nation’s most pressing affordable housing and homelessness challenges,” said NLIHC Interim President and CEO Renee Willis.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has temporarily resumed payments for some housing programs, including Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, Project-Based Rental Assistance, Section 202 Housing for the Elderly, and Section 811 Housing for Persons with Disabilities.
Despite this temporary measure, however, all HUD programs remain at significant risk if federal funds are frozen. Advocates must keep up the pressure on federal lawmakers to ensure that all federal housing and homelessness programs are protected, including Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers; Project-Based Rental Assistance; Section 202 Housing for the Elderly; Section 811 Housing for Persons with Disabilities; Homeless Assistance Grants; Public Housing Operating and Capital Funds; HOME Investment Partnerships Program; Community Development Block Grants; Housing for Persons with AIDS; Fair Housing; Housing Counseling; Eviction Prevention Grants; the national Housing Trust Fund; Tribal housing programs; and many others.
Withholding funding would deny states and local governments key federal resources used to: provide rental assistance to help low-income households afford their homes; build and preserve affordable rental housing for low-income households; operate and maintain public housing and other affordable housing for millions of seniors, people with disabilities, and families with young children; address and prevent homelessness, which has reached its highest level on record; revitalize neighborhoods, promote economic development, and improve community facilities, including infrastructure and services in low-income communities; investigate and enforce fair housing and civil rights laws; rebuild housing and infrastructure after major disasters and mitigate future harm; ensure low-income households have access to heat in winter; and provide downpayment assistance to new homebuyers and help current homeowners make critical repairs.
While federal funds are frozen, each federal department and agency is required to complete a comprehensive analysis of how each program is impacted by President Trump’s recent executive orders. If implemented, these executive orders would worsen America’s affordable housing and homelessness crisis.
###