By Kim Johnson, NLIHC Senior Director of Policy
The White House is expected to release a budget request for fiscal year (FY) 2027 on April 3. The president’s budget request is a normal part of the federal appropriations process, signaling the beginning of a new appropriations cycle. While the budget request does not dictate funding or policy, it is a way for the administration to signal their priorities to Congress and the public. NLIHC will publish an analysis of the FY27 budget request after its release.
This year’s request for HUD programs is expected to include drastic cuts and policy proposals similar to those in President Trump’s and HUD Secretary Scott Turner’s FY26 budget request. Last year, the administration requested historic cuts and changes to HUD’s rental and homelessness assistance programs that, if implemented, would have jeopardized housing assistance for millions of people who rely on HUD assistance for safe, stable housing. Thanks to the hard work of advocates and congressional allies, Congress resoundingly rejected the drastic cuts and changes proposed in last year’s budget request and provided instead a significant increase for HUD programs in the final FY26 budget.
Take Action: Tell Congress to Provide the Highest Possible Funding for Affordable Housing and Homelessness Programs in FY27!
NLIHC is calling on Congress to once again reject any drastic cuts or harmful policy changes proposed in the White House’s budget request, and instead provide the highest possible funding for HUD’s affordable housing, homelessness, and community development programs—including for NLIHC’s top priorities:
- Full funding to renew all existing Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) contracts, including ensuring continued assistance for Emergency Housing Voucher holders.
- At least $4.9 billion for HUD’s Homeless Assistance Grants program to address the needs of people experiencing homelessness.
- Increased funding for public housing operations and capital needs, to help maintain and efficiently operate public housing.
- Increased investments in programs that support the construction and preservation of deeply affordable, accessible housing, including full funding for all Section 811 PRA and PRAC renewals, at least $424 million for new Section 811 PRA contracts, and full funding to renew all existing contracts under the Section 202 Housing for the Elderly program.
- At least $15 million for HUD’s Eviction Prevention Grant Program (EPGP), to provide communities grants to establish right to counsel and other programs that help people avoid eviction and remain housed.
- At least maintained funding of $1.1 billion for the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) program, and increasing funding to $150 million for the IHBG-Competitive program.
Advocates can take action today by:
- Emailing or calling members’ offices to tell them about the importance of affordable housing, homelessness, and community development resources to you, your family, your community, or your work. You can use NLIHC’s Take Action page to look up your member offices or call/send an email directly!
- Sharing stories of those directly impacted by homelessness and housing instability. Storytelling adds emotional weight to your message and can help lawmakers see how their policy decisions impact actual people. Learn about how to tell compelling stories with this resource.
Visit NLIHC’s Advocacy Hub for more information and resources that can help you take action and help protect the affordable housing programs people rely on.