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

Take Action: Engage Your Members of Congress During August Recess

It is critical for advocates to engage directly with policymakers to urge them to take action to address the issues of housing affordability and homelessness – and there is no better time to do so than during the congressional recess when senators and representatives are back in their home states…

House Passes Budget Deal; Senate to Vote this Week

The House passed a two-year FY20-21 budget deal (H.R. 3877) on July 25 by a vote of 284-149. Congressional leadership and the White House announced on July 23 that they had reached an agreement to lift the low federal spending caps on defense and domestic programs by $321 billion for the next two…

Engage Your Members of Congress During August Recess!

It is critical for advocates to engage directly with policymakers to urge them to take action to address the issues of housing affordability and homelessness – and there is no better time for this engagement than during the congressional recess when senators and representatives are back in their…