The National Low Income Housing Coalition, along with 13 members of Congress, 275 in-person advocates, and over 3,000 live streamers, stood together at HUD headquarters on March 3 speaking out against threats to vital housing and homelessness programs. The “Hands Off HUD” event, led by NLIHC, was a powerful showcase of resistance to diminishing vital services for those who need them most.
House Financial Services Committee Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-CA) and several other congressional champions attempted to hand deliver a letter to HUD Secretary Scott Turner, demanding he stop Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)’s efforts to decimate federal housing programs. Although the congressional delegation was told by HUD staff that Mr. Turner was busy and that the representatives could not come inside, but this did not stop attendees from communicating their message. Ranking Member Waters said, if the HUD Secretary will not come out, “We’ll just give the message to Mr. Turner from out here.” The following congressional champions joined her in delivering their message to the crowd in front of HUD:
- Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA)
- Senator Van Hollen (D-MD)
- Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez (D-NY)
- Congressman Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO)
- Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (D-TX)
- Congresswoman Rashida Talib (D-MI)
- Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (D-OH)
- Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC)
- Congressman Steven Horsford (D-NV)
- Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ)
- Congresswoman Becca Balint (D-VT)
- Congressman Danny Davis (D-IL)
- Congresswoman Jill Tokuda (D-HI)
- Congressman Jonathan Jackson (D-IL)
Several national organizations representing people impacted by the proposed funding cuts also spoke at the event, including the National Fair Housing Alliance, National Coalition for the Homeless, National ADAPT, American Federation of Government employees, and American Association of Service Coordinators.
NLIHC sends our deepest gratitude to all who contributed to the Hands Off Housing event and who continue to advocate for the protection of housing and homelessness programs. Advocates can take the following actions to keep the pressure on: