On September 9, NLIHC hosted a HoUSed campaign national call discussing how the Trump administration’s recent executive orders and the federalization of the local police force in D.C. are impacting people experiencing homelessness in the nation’s capital.
NLIHC’s Senior Vice President of Policy David Gonzalez Rice moderated the discussion that provided national and local context. NLIHC’s Vice President of Field Strategy & Innovation Ramina Davidson gave an overview of recent events and executive orders contributing to homelessness and housing unaffordability through funding redirections to policies proven to be ineffective.
National Homelessness Law Center’s Senior Policy Director Eric Tars provided context behind a national push for the criminalization of homelessness connecting to immigration—including “solutions” such as taking away HUD resources from non-citizens to detaining individuals in facilities with the threat of arrest—and walked through the harms and authoritarian nature of recent executive orders. Miriam’s Kitchen Chief Advocacy Officer Lara Pukatch recounted local reactions to D.C.’s federal takeover and war on crime, describing increased threats to people experiencing homelessness and the necessity of housing resources and investments.
Patricia Nix-Hodes, the Law Project Director of the Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness closed the discussion by highlighting the Coalition’s work in planning and preparing for federal deployment in Chicago. Through resources like “Know Your Rights” materials and communication with DC organizations, Nix-Hodes emphasized the importance of collaboration between community groups.
A recording of the call, as well as the presentation slides, are now available.
Register here for NLIHC’s next HoUSed campaign national call on September 23 from 4:00 to 5:00 pm ET.
Avenues of Advocacy
- Urge Congressmembers to:
- Invest in proven solutions to homelessness
- Pass the Housing Not Handcuffs Act
- Stand down the federal escalation
- Learn more about advocacy strategies through NLIHC’s FY26 Advocacy Toolkit
Navigating-Federal-Enforcement Resources
- Check out Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness’s know-your-rights information
NLIHC’s HoUSed campaign national calls take place on the second and last Tuesday of every month, from 4:00 to 5:00 pm ET. Register for the series here.