Take Action to Protect Federal Housing and Homelessness Funding in FY26 with NLIHC’s Advocacy Toolkit

Advocates can use NLIHC’s fiscal year (FY) 2026 toolkit, “Opposing Cuts to Federal Investments in Affordable Housing,” to call on Congress to protect and expand affordable housing and homelessness resources in the upcoming federal budget.  

Communities around the country rely on funding from HUD and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support critical affordable housing, homelessness services, and community development projects. Despite the importance of these resources, HUD and USDA programs have been dramatically underfunded for decades. At current funding levels, only one out of every four households that qualifies for rental assistance receives assistance, leaving millions of renters struggling to afford housing and a record number of people experiencing homelessness.  

On May 2, President Donald Trump released a partial budget request for FY26 that indicated the Administration would pursue a historic 44% cut to HUD funding, including a proposed 43% cut to rental assistance compared to the previous year. The proposal would also cut funding for and restructure the Homelessness Assistance Grants (HAG) program and fully eliminate several other programs that provide vital aid to low-income communities and individuals facing housing insecurity (see NLIHC’s full analysis here). The president’s full budget request is expected to be released in the coming weeks.  

The president’s budget request – partial or not – represents the wishes and priorities of the president and his Administration. Only Congress has the authority to determine final funding levels for federal programs. House and Senate appropriators are beginning to draft their own FY26 proposals.  

Take action – tell Congress to reject the Trump Administration’s proposal and to invest in the affordable housing, homelessness, and community development resources our communities need!    

The “Opposing Cuts to Federal Investments in Affordable Housing” toolkit offers information, resources, and strategies for advocates to take action to protect federal investments in affordable housing, homelessness assistance, and community development. NLIHC’s FY26 priorities include: 

• Full funding to renew all existing Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) contracts and funding to renew 60,000 Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHVs). 
• Increased funding for public housing operations and public housing capital needs. 
• $4.922 billion for HUD’s Homeless Assistance Grants (HAG) program. 
• $20 million for the Eviction Protection Grant Program (EPGP).
• At least $1.3 billion for HUD’s Tribal housing programs and $150 million for competitive funds targeted to tribes with the greatest needs.  

The toolkit also links to the “Reject Housing Cuts and EHV Funding Cliff: Action Toolkit,” developed in partnership with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, National Alliance to End Homelessness, and the National Housing Law Project. This toolkit provides additional resources and data highlighting the urgent need for additional FY26 funding for HCV and EHV renewals.   

National, state, local, Tribal, and territorial organizations can also join over 2,300 organizations on CHCDF’s national letter urging Congress to provide the highest possible funding for affordable housing, homelessness assistance, and community development resources in FY26.