The Trump Administration is expected to terminate half of all employees at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), making it significantly harder for states and communities to access the federal housing, community development, and homelessness investments they need to address their most pressing challenges.
Advocates should contact their senators and representatives TODAY and demand they protect HUD staff and programs!
Urge Congress to Protect HUD Programs and Staff
Background
According to reports, the Trump administration will terminate half of all HUD employees. This will make it significantly harder for states and communities to access key federal resources used to:
- Provide rental assistance to help low-income households afford their homes.
- Build and preserve affordable rental housing for low-income households.
- Address and prevent homelessness, which has reached its highest level on record.
- Operate and maintain public housing and other affordable housing for millions of seniors, people with disabilities, and families with young children.
- Revitalize neighborhoods, promote economic development, and improve community facilities, including infrastructure and services in low-income communities.
- Reform restrictive zoning and land use regulations that inflate housing costs.
- Investigate and enforce fair housing and civil rights laws.
- Rebuild housing and infrastructure after major disasters and mitigate future harm.
As a direct consequence, homeless shelters will close their doors, communities will stop construction on new projects to build housing and community centers, households receiving rental assistance will face immediate rent increases and evictions, and communities, families, and small businesses impacted by disasters will be unable to rebuild.
At a time when housing costs are far out of reach for renters and when homelessness has reached an all-time high, now is the time to strengthen federal investments in affordable housing and homelessness solutions.
In late January, the Trump administration directed all federal agencies, including HUD, to withhold all federal assistance investments – including essential HUD funds. After enormous pressure from advocates and congressional champions, the administration rescinded its directive after 48 hours. Now, President Trump is attempting to decimate HUD by terminating critically needed staff.
Take Action
Advocates must act urgently to protect HUD! Tell your members of Congress why HUD resources are critical to low-income families and communities and urge them to protect HUD programs and staff.