By Marisa Kendall
This article was originally published by CalMatters
For weeks, California’s homeless service providers have worried about rumors that the federal government was going to cut funds for permanent housing.
Now, those cuts are here. Shortly after the federal government reopened, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development issued a policy change that will shift the majority of federal homelessness funds away from permanent housing and into temporary shelter.
Each jurisdiction applying for a piece of about $4 billion in federal homelessness funds during the 2025 fiscal year can now spend no more than 30% of their grant on permanent housing. That’s a major change. For years, the federal government and California cities and counties have prioritized permanent housing as the long-term solution to homelessness. Los Angeles County, for example, dedicates more than 80% of its federal funds to permanent housing.
President Donald Trump’s administration instead wants cities and counties to focus on temporary shelters that get people off the street quickly, and on programs that require people to participate in addiction treatment.
Scott Turner, HUD Secretary: “We are stopping the Biden-era slush fund that fueled the homelessness crisis, shut out faith-based providers simply because of their values, and incentivized never-ending government dependency.”
The National Homelessness Law Center says these changes will force about 170,000 people nationwide out of subsidized housing and back onto the street.
Jesse Rabinowitz, spokesperson: “Trump’s approach towards homelessness will worsen the lives of most people, waste taxpayer money, and instead direct taxpayer dollars towards debunked, disproven, and failed approaches to homelessness.”
The new policy also attacks organizations’ diversity and inclusion efforts; support of transgender clients; and use of “harm reduction” strategies that seek to reduce overdose deaths by helping people in active addiction use drugs more safely. Federal funds cannot be used for projects that further any of those efforts.
Absolutely shameful and another example of war on the down trodden that will result in democratic socialism
Everyone that homeless is not on drugs. So, a program with treatment wouldn’t be as helpful. But a program helping me be able to afford a decent roof over my head, in a safe environment without living over my means, with the ability to pay all my utilities and have food in my mouth would be beneficial. I guess that means keep dreaming, since our government only knows how to cut off help to enrich themselves.
I think we probably have the most selfish, gold digging, ass of a president that we have ever had. And here is just more proof to further my claims. He diesnt like homelessness? Watch what happens now. Stupid ass.
Reality is for people who don’t use drugs
Trump complete dingbat he don’t know his head from his anus he has the slightest idea what it’s like to be in need he needs to come down to our low life level of living and see how long he survives he will be crying for daddy in two minutes