Federal Budget & Spending

Despite a proven track record, federal housing programs are chronically underfunded. Just one in four households eligible for federal housing assistance actually receive the help they need, leaving the rest to struggle to afford the cost of rent. 

Expanding resources available to help people with the lowest incomes find and maintain safe, stable, affordable, accessible housing depends on increasing federal appropriations. NLIHC monitors the federal budget process and advocates for the highest possible allocation of resources at HUD and the USDA Rural Housing Service to support deeply affordable housing and homelessness resources. 

NLIHC is also a Steering Committee member of the Campaign for Housing and Community Development Funding, a coalition of over 75 national organizations working together to ensure robust resources to address America's housing crisis. Learn more here.

Budget Trends

image-20231031140827-1Fact of the Week: Housing Assistance Budget Authority as a Share of GDP Has Declined Precipitously, Spending Relatively Consistent, Since the 1970's
 
Budget Analysis for Fiscal Year 2026

NLIHC FY26 Budget Chart for Key HUD Programs (Updated 7/25/25)

Budget Analysis for Fiscal Year 2025

NLIHC FY25 Budget Chart for Key HUD Programs (Updated 7/25/24)

Budget Analysis for Fiscal Year 2024 

NLIHC FY24 Budget Chart for Key HUD Programs (Updated 3/3/24)

Budget Analysis for Fiscal Year 2023 

NLIHC FY23 Budget Chart for Key HUD Programs (Updated 12/19/22)

Additional Resources 

For more information on Budget and Appropriations, contact Kim Johnson, Policy Manager, at [email protected].

Memo to Members and Partners Articles

Join Day of Action TODAY to Protect Housing Benefits

The Center for American Progress’ HandsOff campaign has organized a digital day of action for January 29, the day before the State of the Union. The day of action seeks to highlight the upcoming benefit cuts (“welfare reform”) threats and to educate people before President Trump’s speech and…

Senators Negotiate End to Federal Government Shutdown

After failing last week to reach an agreement fund the federal government for FY18, the Senate is voting this afternoon to temporarily extend federal funding under a fourth continuing resolution (CR) through February 8 and to authorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) through 2023.…

Congress Faces Another Deadline to Fund Federal Government

Congress remains at an impasse over how to fund the federal government for FY18, creating the possibility of a government shutdown when the current stopgap funding measure, known as a continuing resolution (CR), expires on January 19. A CR carries forward funding levels from the previous year.…

House Committee Releases Details on Third Stopgap Funding Measure

The House Appropriations Committee released on December 13 the details on a stopgap funding measure, known as a continuing resolution (CR), which would fund the government at FY17 levels through January 19. The CR would give lawmakers more time to negotiate a budget deal to lift statutorily…