The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) housing assistance programs help families pay rent and connect people experiencing homelessness to housing and services for long-term stability. Homeless Assistance Grants provide the backbone of local homelessness response systems by funding the Continuum of Care and Emergency Solutions Grants programs. These resources help communities identify people experiencing homelessness, provide emergency shelter and essential services, and—critically—support permanent housing and long-term stability through supportive services. At a time when homelessness is rising nationwide, these grants give local partners the tools needed to prevent and end homelessness effectively.
Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, including Housing Choice Vouchers, helps very low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford safe, stable housing in the private market. As rents rise faster than wages and eviction rates increase, Tenant-Based Rental Assistance remains one of the most effective tools to prevent homelessness and promote long-term stability.
The President's FY27 budget request proposes $4.024 billion for HUD's Homeless Assistance Grants, representing a 9% cut from FY26. The proposal notably restructures the program by eliminating the Continuum of Care (CoC) program and instead consolidating funds into an expanded Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) block grant.
The FY27 House Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Bill largely rejects the President’s budget proposals. The House Appropriations Committee passed a Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) bill that explicitly rejects the elimination of the Continuum of Care (CoC) program. The bill allocates $3.78 billion to CoCs and rural housing stability assistance, a roughly $232 million cut from the FY26 enacted level. It directs the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to reserve at least 60% of these funds for Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) renewals. The House FY27 spending bill also allocates $4.16 billion for HUD's Homeless Assistance Grants account.
Encourage your Member of Congress to support continued funding for rental and homelessness assistance programs and preserve communities’ flexibility to use evidence-based housing and supportive services that meet local needs and reject the proposed consolidation in the President’s budget.