On April 14, NLIHC held a national HoUSed campaign call focused on the federal budget, work requirements, and time limits. Senior Vice President of Policy David Gonzalez Rice opened with an overview of the agenda. Senior Director of Policy Kim Johnson then reviewed the president’s FY27 HUD budget request, highlighting proposed funding cuts to rental assistance and community development, and a shift in funding priorities toward addressing “fraud” and self-sufficiency instead of fair housing. Johnson also summarized the Senate and House appropriations timelines and NLIHC’s funding priorities, stressing the importance of individual advocacy.
Senior Policy Advisor Renee Williams then addressed work requirements and time limits in HUD-assisted housing under the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), noting NLIHC’s opposition. Williams introduced a broader discussion with input from several speakers. Janelle Scott, Director of Policy & Legislative Affairs at the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA), described CLPHA’s management of housing stock and explained that only 26% of residents in public housing agencies would potentially be subject to a work requirement. Scott also outlined CLPHA’s workforce development initiatives, emphasizing the need for programs that genuinely support residents’ self-sufficiency.
Korey Lundin, Senior Attorney at the National Housing Law Project (NHLP), detailed the NPRM’s scope, including covered programs, permitted actions for PHAs and PBRA owners, specific requirements and limits, and the anticipated timeline. Lundin highlighted the proposal’s potentially harsh impact, lack of funding and oversight, insufficient supportive services, and uncertainty regarding the final rule. Michael Nagel, Policy Manager at The Arc, discussed the proposal’s effects on HUD-assisted residents with disabilities, noting the restrictive definition of disability and its implications for access to assistance.
Jesse Fairbanks, Policy Analyst at the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), concluded the discussion of work requirements and time limits by sharing the host of resources created in response to the rule while contextualizing it in other issue spaces. Fairbanks highlighted the rule's ineffectiveness in targeting structural barriers to employment, illustrating that residents and providers alike will be most affected by its consequences. Lastly, NLIHC Vice President of Field Strategy & Innovation Ramina Davidson closed the call by sharing resources and next steps individuals can take. A recording of the call, along with the presentation slides, is now available. Register here for NLIHC’s next National HoUSed campaign call on April 28 from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm ET.
Information on the FY27 Budget
- Read NLIHC’s analysis of the president’s FY27 budget request here.
- Access NLIHC’s budget chart.
- Add your organization to the FY27 budget sign-on letter here.
- Take action on FY27 appropriations!
Work Requirements and Time Limits
- Read NLIHC’s summary of the proposed rulemaking.
- Access NLIHC’s comment template here.
- Explore NHLP’s legal analysis of the rule here and their one-pager here.
- Access CLASP’s resources and comment templates on work requirements and time limits.
- Sign-on comment for anti-poverty organizations to show unified opposition to HUD's rule.
- Submit your own comment here!
NLIHC’s national HoUSed campaign calls take place on the second and last Tuesday of every month, from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm ET. Register for the series here and access NLIHC’s archive of HoUSed campaign recordings here.