CEO Corner:
Week of May 5

Welcome to this week’s CEO Corner. A lot has happened since last Tuesday, so let’s jump straight in.

Federal Budget Updates

It has now been several days since President Trump released his federal budget request to Congress for Fiscal Year 2026. It is undoubtedly troublesome. But it is important to remember that this is only the beginning of the federal budget process for the next fiscal year. This means that collectively, we have time to not only fight against the administration’s budget proposal, but fight for a budget that reflects what we need instead.

Every year, the President makes a formal budget request to Congress. While it is just a proposal for Congressional consideration, it serves as a signal of the administration’s policy and funding priorities for the coming year.

After reviewing the request, I can safely tell you that President Trump’s budget proposal is bad for the work to end homelessness. From zeroing out the Continuum of Care and HOPWA programs in favor of an inadequate Emergency Solutions Grants increase, to eliminating the Community Development Block Grant and HOME programs, to major changes and cuts in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s rental assistance programs, to cuts in other critical supports — this budget would (if passed) be disastrous for already-marginalized people, especially those experiencing homelessness and housing instability. You can read our statement on the President’s budget proposal here, and our analysis of budget impacts here.

Now is the time to speak up. Congress makes the ultimate decision about the federal budget, so each of us should reach out to our members. They must understand how critical HUD’s homeless assistance and housing programs are to their communities: we must illustrate the catastrophic impact that would be felt if they move forward with anything close to what the President has proposed.

Yesterday, the Alliance sent out an Advocacy Alert to speak up for a healthier, more responsible budget. If you missed it, please take action today and regularly in the weeks and months to come. Personalized messages are most effective, so be sure to share specific experiences and needs with your Members of Congress. Your community depends on it.

If you are new to advocacy or need a refresher, you can review our How to Effectively Work with Federal, State, and Local Leaders toolkit.

Emergency Housing Vouchers

The Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program, created in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, has been extremely successful in supporting people experiencing or at immediate risk of homelessness, including people escaping intimate partner violence.

Currently, 59,000 EHVs are still in use across every state, with the largest numbers in California (15,000), New York (9,400), Texas (3,500), Florida (2,500), Washington (2,400), Illinois (1,800), and Ohio (1,200). As a result of rapid rent increases over the last four years, funding is expected to run out much earlier than expected. Absent additional funding, thousands of households are at risk of becoming homeless.

We have heard from many of you about how valuable EHVs have been in your community, as well as how bad it will be if the funding expires early. The Alliance is working closely with our partners at the National Low Income Housing Coalition, National Homelessness Law Project, and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities to develop materials that can be used to mobilize. And you can start by telling Congress to protect EHVs and ensure people do not lose the assistance they desperately need!

Medicaid Still at Risk

There is still time to advocate against the harmful Medicaid proposals being considered. Tell your Members of Congress that Medicaid cuts will have a detrimental impact on individuals experiencing homelessness in the districts and states they represent by reducing access to essential healthcare and supportive services. It is important that they hear personal stories to tie the decisions they make to the lives of their constituents.

Lawsuit Filed Against HUD Regarding CoC Grant Agreements

Last Friday, a group of local jurisdictions announced that they filed a lawsuit against HUD regarding new requirements included in the Continuum of Care and certain transportation-related grant agreements. The plaintiffs will also file a temporary restraining order on May 5 that, if granted, would block HUD and the Federal Transit Administration from imposing or enforcing the unauthorized grant conditions, and anticipate a court ruling by the end of the week.

See the press release by King County, WA here, and check to see if your community is part of this coalition.

Good News

As always, let’s close out with some “glimmers:”

• Hennepin County, MN has released its preliminary Point-in-Time Count numbers, showing a 20% decrease in total homelessness since 2024, with a 30 percent decrease in families with children and a 14 percent drop in unsheltered homelessness!

• Treasure Coast, FL has released its preliminary PIT numbers, showing a 19% decrease in total homelessness since 2024!

• In response to persistent housing and tenant rights advocacy, New York City announced a $1 billion commitment for housing as part of its proposed “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity” initiative, including additional funding for supportive housing.

We at the Alliance are deeply grateful for your efforts in such uncertain times. If your community has questions or if you’re seeking information from the Alliance, please send an email to info@naeh.org with the subject line “FIELD INFO REQUEST.”