Memo to Members

Lawmakers Return to Washington for End of 119th Congress – Join Tomorrow’s (November 10) Day of Action to Protect Funding for Vital Federal Programs and Services

Nov 09, 2026

By Kim Johnson, NLIHC Senior Director of Policy

Members of the House and Senate will return to their Washington, D.C. offices today for the last few weeks of the 119th congressional session. Lawmakers will need to consider several “must pass” pieces of legislation, including a continuing resolution (CR) that would extend federal funding beyond December 11, when the current CR expires, and potentially into the new year.  

With time limited, an ongoing stalemate over fiscal year (FY) 2027 spending negotiations, and a new congressional session around the corner, it is unlikely that there will be agreement on a final FY27 spending bill for HUD programs before the end of the year. Without final FY27 spending bills in place, members will need to pass another CR before December 11 to ensure federal programs and services remain funded and the government does not shut down. 

The Next CR Must Protect Federal Funding  

NLIHC and our partners in the Campaign for Housing and Community Development Funding (CHCDF) are joining the National Council of Nonprofits’ (NCN’s) November 10 Day of Action to urge Congress to include language in the CR permanently blocking implementation of the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB’s) proposed rule, “Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance.”  

If finalized, the proposal would reshape the framework for federal funding awards across agencies to ensure funds are not used to support programs that run afoul of the administration’s policy positions, including programs that support disparate impact; diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility; or “gender ideology.” NLIHC strongly opposes the rule, particularly due to its potential impact on federal housing programs, and is calling on Congress to permanently block its implementation.  

In addition, NLIHC and our partners at the National Alliance to End Homelessness (the Alliance) are calling on Congress to include language in the next CR that would protect funding for the Continuum of Care (CoC) program by requiring HUD to non-competitively renew all CoC projects expiring in FY26 for 12 months. HUD’s CoC program, the backbone of the nation’s homelessness response system, provides funding to thousands of communities around the country for services like permanent supportive housing. The Trump administration has proposed drastic changes to the program that would disrupt communities’ homelessness response efforts and put an estimated 97,000 people who previously experienced homelessness at risk of losing their housing.  

The Alliance is hosting a November 18 Day of Action for advocates to push for language in the next CR protecting funding for CoC programs and the people who rely on them. Learn more and access the Alliance’s toolkit for the day of action.  

Take Action!  

Join NCN’s Day of Action tomorrow (November 10)! Call or email your members of Congress and urge them to block OMB’s proposed rule. Learn more about key changes in the proposal and its impact on housing programs.  

Advocates should also mark their calendars for the Alliance’s November 18 Day of Action on the CoC program! NLIHC and the Alliance are calling on Congress to include language in the next CR requiring HUD to non-competitively renew all expiring CoC projects for 12 months. Access the Alliance’s Activation Toolkit, Keep People Home, to learn how you can join the Day of Action.    

Keep emailing or calling your federal elected officials to urge them to protect and expand investments in affordable housing, homelessness, and community development resources!  

It is likely the next CR will extend funding for federal programs into early 2027, giving the new Congress the opportunity to enact FY27 spending bills and providing additional time to push elected officials for the highest possible funding and needed guardrails for HUD’s vital affordable housing, homelessness, and community development programs.  

  • Use NLIHC’s Take Action page to look up your member offices or call/send an email directly, and urge them to provide increased investments in affordable housing, homelessness, and community development programs in HUD’s final fiscal year (FY) 2027 spending bill, including NLIHC’s priorities:  
    • Provide at least $45.6 billion for TBRA programs, which would be enough to renew all current TBRA contracts.  
    • Invest at least $5.1 billion in HUD’s Homeless Assistance Grants (HAG) program.  
    • Fully fund the Public Housing Operating Fund at the full, formula-determined need, plus $598 million to address the cumulative shortfall in Public Housing operations reported in FY25, and increase funding for the Public Housing Capital Fund to begin addressing the capital needs backlog in Public Housing. 
    • Invest in accessible, affordable homes for older adults and people with disabilities by fully renewing all existing PBRA contracts and Project Rental Assistance Contracts (PRACs) and expanding funding for the Section 202 Housing for the Elderly and Section 811 Housing for Persons with Disabilities programs.  
    • Provide at least $15 million for HUD’s Eviction Protection Grant Program (EPGP), which gives communities grants to establish right to counsel and other programs that help people avoid eviction and remain housed.    
    • At least maintain $1.1 billion for the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) program and increase funding for the IHBG-Competitive program to $150 million, targeted to Tribal communities with the most urgent housing needs.  
    • Language blocking implementation of other harmful proposed changes by HUD, including the Equal Access rule, the “Mixed-Status” rule, and the disparate impact rule.   

  • Organizations can also join CHCDF’s fiscal year (FY) 2027 sign-on letter calling for increased investments in HUD’s and USDA’s affordable housing, homelessness, and community development programs.

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