Today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, along with 53 House Democrats, sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner, calling on him to rescind a recent HUD decision to slash essential Continuum of Care (CoC) program funding. These dangerous cuts will worsen the ongoing homelessness crisis and leave thousands of vulnerable Americans without stable housing.

“We write in response to the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) reckless and disturbing policy change and funding announcement that could push over 170,000 formerly homeless individuals back on the streets and exacerbate our nation’s homelessness crisis,” wrote the lawmakers.

HUD’s Notice for Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Fiscal Year 2025 Continuum of Care Program, issued on November 13, 2025 would slash funding for permanent supportive housing (PSH) programs from 86% of CoC funds to just 30%, impose an extremely compressed application timeline creating a half-year funding gap, and deprioritize CoCs which use evidence-based solutions to end homelessness.

The lawmakers warned: “At a time when our nation has over 771,000 people experiencing homelessness, this NOFO will worsen the situation, impacting people with disabilities, veterans, domestic violence survivors, women with children and more.”

In their letter, the lawmakers highlighted the long-standing bipartisan support for Housing First, noting that it remains the most effective tool local providers have to reduce homelessness. They also expressed serious concern that HUD’s delayed release of the FY2025 NOFO – and the shortened time allowed for CoCs to apply – would create a nearly half-year gap in services, putting the most vulnerable people at immediate risk.

“This reckless timing will put critical homeless services at risk, leave rents unpaid, and put the most vulnerable people back on the streets,” wrote the lawmakers.

The lawmakers concluded their letter by urging HUD to immediately rescind the harmful FY2025 NOFO, renew current grants under the FY2024 NOFO structure, and ensure that CoCs using proven, evidence-based solutions receive the funding necessary to continue supporting people experiencing homelessness.

Read the full letter HERE.

Full list of signers: Representatives Maxine Waters (D-CA), Becca Balint (D-VT), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Janelle Bynum (D-OR), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Sean Casten (D-IL), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Maxine Dexter (D-OR), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Cleo Fields (D-LA), Maxwell Frost (D-FL), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), Daniel Goldman (D-NY), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), Al Green (D-TX), Jim Himes (D-CT), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Henry Johnson (D-GA), William Keating (D-MA), Greg Landsman (D-OH), George Latimer (D-NY), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), John Mannion (D-NY), Sarah McBride (D-DE), James McGovern (D-MA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Joseph Morelle (D-NY), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Eleanor Norton (D-DC), Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Brittany Pettersen (D-CO), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Luz Rivas (D-CA), David Scott (D-GA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Adam Smith (D-WA), Eric Sorensen (D-IL), Greg Stanton (D-AZ), Mark Takano (D-CA), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Ritchie Torres (D-NY), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), Nikema Williams (D-GA), Frederica Wilson (D-FL).

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