Reject Proposed Cuts and Increase Funding for Housing and Homelessness Programs

As your constituent, I'm writing to urge you to work with your colleagues to expand investments in HUD programs in the FY26 spending bill, including: 1) Full funding to renew all existing Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) contracts and 60,000 Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHVs). 2) Increased funding for public housing operations and public housing capital needs. 3) $4.922 billion for HUD’s Homeless Assistance Grants (HAG) program. 4) $20 million for the Eviction Protection Grant Program (EPGP).  5) At least $1.3 billion for HUD’s Tribal housing programs and $150 million for competitive funds targeted to tribes with the greatest needs. Housing costs continue to rise faster than wages, and the supply of affordable and accessible homes and rental assistance has not kept pace with demand. HUD’s affordable housing and homelessness programs play a vital role in helping households make ends meet in our community. While the final FY25 bill provided some funding increases for select HUD programs, it was still insufficient to ensure renewal of all existing HCVs and short of what would be required to ensure continuation of all HAG-funded programs and services. As a result, an estimated 32,000 vouchers will be lost through turnover, and homelessness assistance services will be impacted for 18,500 households. The House's draft bill to cut funding to key programs and slash HUD staff by 26% will further deplete our community's ability to respond to the needs of hardworking families, veterans, people with disabilities, and older adults. Additionally, the EHV program was slated to last until 2030, but the rapidly increasing cost of rent over the last four years has caused funds to run out faster than expected. Unless additional funding is allocated by Congress, HUD estimates funding will run out in 2026. Congress must provide additional funding to ensure the 60,000 households who receive an EHV do not lose the assistance they need to keep a roof over their heads. Homelessness will only grow worse if we let this happen. Federal housing investments prevent housing instability and homelessness, support thriving communities, and encourage economic prosperity and growth. Congress should NOT balance our nation’s budget at the expense of our nation’s lowest-income and most marginalized people and families who are already struggling to get by. I urge you and your colleagues to reject any harmful proposals to cut these vital investments in our communities, and instead pass a final FY26 spending bill that funds affordable housing and homelessness programs at the highest level possible in FY26.