Chicago, IL — In case you missed it, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced new rules that undermine housing-first programs and slashed funding that subsidizes long-term housing solutions for many Illinoisans who need it most. In Illinois, more than 8,500 formerly unhoused people that use permanent-supportive housing beds that are funded by HUD are at risk of being evicted. Additionally, more than 100 statewide organizations rely on HUD funding to run affordable apartment buildings or pay rent subsidies to private landlords for people most at-risk of becoming homeless. Housing advocates and groups are sounding the alarm that this will reverse progress for hundreds of vulnerable families.
In reaction to this, Democratic Party of Illinois Chair Lisa Hernandez released the following statement:
“While Trump calls affordability a ‘Democrat hoax’, his attack on jobs, affordable housing, and the economy is pushing people to the brink of homelessness—and these new federal rules twist the knife in the wound for Illinois’ most vulnerable communities. The reality is that thousands of people with disabilities, seniors, and families will be left without a roof over their heads during the coldest months of the year and the damage of that is irreparable. We all know how housing, poverty, hunger, and education are intertwined—and this move is yet another calculated, cruel attempt to squeeze and punish the working class.”
Key excerpts from Illinois Answers Project: New Federal Rules Could Put Formerly Unhoused People Back Out on The Streets Across Illinois
By Sidnee King Pineda
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Right now, program administrators estimate they’re spending at least 80% of that money to provide permanent housing for people with disabilities who had been on the streets. By January, HUD will require that percentage drop to no more than a third.
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April Redzic, who runs a homelessness prevention program in DuPage County, said she’s concerned that policy changes will reverse progress for hundreds of vulnerable families, including survivors of domestic violence who may begin to feel pressure to return to abusive households.
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“I would hate for all of that progress to make families’ lives better to go away,” she said. Redzic noted the second most affected group would be seniors living with disabilities, who are unable to immediately get jobs that would pay for a market-rate apartment.
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According to Spannaus, if the funding rules do move forward it will do long-term harm to Illinois’ unhoused population. “It’s going to take a long time to undo the damage that has been done by this administration,” he said.
