The Trump administration is again seeking to reshape how federal homelessness dollars are distributed, a move that could have major consequences for California communities that rely on those funds to keep people housed.
The administration wants to steer more funding toward temporary shelters that require sobriety, while reducing support for permanent housing programs. That approach conflicts with California’s long-standing “housing first” model, which prioritizes getting people into stable housing without preconditions such as sobriety or participation in treatment.
A similar effort last year to redirect federal homelessness funding away from permanent housing was blocked by a federal judge. The administration is now trying again, and opponents have returned to court.
This week, the National Alliance to End Homelessness, Santa Clara County and other plaintiffs filed a legal challenge in federal court in Rhode Island, contesting the administration’s latest funding guidelines.
Santa Clara County Counsel Tony LoPresti criticized the renewed effort, saying in a statement that the administration was attempting once more to dismantle a key homelessness prevention program after a court had already stopped its previous attempt. He said the action disregards people who depend on the funding to remain housed.
At stake is more than $4 billion in federal homelessness funding nationwide. The National Alliance to End Homelessness estimates the proposed changes could cause California to lose nearly $238 million for permanent housing programs and could put close to 15,000 Californians at risk of returning to the streets.
The debate is especially significant in California, where cities and counties across Southern California and the Inland Empire continue to face high housing costs, visible encampments and growing pressure to expand shelter and housing options. Many local homelessness programs depend on a mix of federal, state and local dollars, and changes in federal priorities can affect what services agencies are able to provide.
Federal officials argue that the existing approach has not delivered results. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner said earlier this month that the “housing first” strategy failed by placing vulnerable people in housing without producing meaningful progress.
“This ideology promised to end homelessness,” Turner said in a statement. “Instead, billions of taxpayer dollars were spent while homelessness increased to record levels.”
Supporters of housing first policies argue that stable housing is the foundation for addressing mental illness, addiction, unemployment and other problems that can contribute to homelessness. Critics, including officials in the Trump administration, say federal money should place greater emphasis on sobriety and treatment requirements.
The court challenge will determine whether the administration can move forward with the new funding rules or whether California and other states will continue operating under the existing federal framework.
Original source: CalMatters
