Rhode Island, September 12, 2025 — The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island granted a temporary restraining order (TRO) today in National Alliance to End Homelessness v. Turner, et al, halting the Trump-Vance administration’s unlawful restrictions on federal housing funding through the “Continuum of Care (CoC) Builds” program.
The order ensures that providers and communities will not be barred from competing for lifesaving housing resources simply because they are located in jurisdictions that don’t adopt the administration’s ideological agenda, while the litigation continues. The National Alliance to End Homelessness and Women’s Development Corporation are represented by Democracy Forward, National Homelessness Law Center, Lawyers’ Committee for Rhode Island, and ACLU Foundation of Rhode Island.
For decades, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s homelessness programs have supported states, localities, and service providers in building permanent supportive housing to reduce homelessness. The Trump-Vance administration’s sudden addition of extreme, new grant criteria sought to deny funding to entire communities based on political considerations, including whether jurisdictions support sanctuary protections, harm reduction practices, or inclusive policies for transgender people.
The coalition of plaintiffs and counsel in this case issued the following joint statement:
“We welcome the court’s decision to stop a rushed, lawless attempt to make essential funding contingent on a community’s compliance with harmful and unlawful restrictions the Trump-Vance administration is trying to impose. This order ensures that service providers can focus on what matters most: providing safe, stable housing and support to people in crisis. We will continue to fight to make sure housing resources remain available to all communities, free from political interference.”
More information can be found here.
About Democracy Forward
Democracy Forward Foundation is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org.
About the National Alliance to End Homelessness
The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization committed to preventing and ending homelessness in the United States. As a leading voice on the issue of homelessness, the Alliance analyzes policy and develops pragmatic, cost-effective solutions; works collaboratively with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to build state and local capacity; and provides data and research to policymakers and elected officials in order to inform policy debates and educate the public and opinion leaders nationwide.
About the National Homelessness Law Center
The National Homelessness Law Center is committed to protecting the rights of unhoused people across the United States and to advocating for policies that prevent and end homelessness, ensuring that all people have access to safe and adequate housing.
PRESS & MEDIA RESOURCES
The Alliance Welcomes Media Inquiries
For media inquiries, please contact:
Libby Miller
lmiller@naeh.org
202-942-8252
Stay Updated: Solutions, Stories, and Ways to Make an Impact
Sign up to receive updates on the Alliance’s work, including the latest research, advocacy efforts, and real stories of progress — plus ways you can help drive lasting change.