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

USDA’s Rural Development Programs Scrutinized during Budget Hearing

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a budget hearing on USDA’s Rural Development (RD) programs on March 15.  Undersecretary for Rural Development Lisa Mensah and Administrator for the Rural Housing…

Senate Subcommittee Holds Hearing on FY17 HUD Budget Request

On March 10, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) held a hearing on HUD’s FY17 budget request. HUD Secretary Julián Castro and HUD Inspector General David Montoya testified. In her opening remarks, Subcommittee Chair…

Budget Resolution Still Elusive

Another week has passed with the prospects of an FY17 budget resolution growing dimmer. On the Senate side, any budget resolution that attempts to undo the $30 billion increase in discretionary spending approved in a compromise agreement last fall would require Republicans who are running for re-…

More House Appropriations Subcommittees to Hold Hearings

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies will hold a March 15 hearing on the budget for the Department of Transportation (DOT) and HUD’s Office of Inspector General. HUD Inspector General David Montoya and DOT Inspector General…