Federal Cuts to HUD Grants Threaten Impact on Housing Discrimination Efforts
New Set of Federal Cuts
A new set of federal cuts at the hands of the Trump administration will impact the number of grants the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) can offer to organizations. Along with these latest reductions, HUD, like many federal agencies, has lost hundreds of employees as part of efforts to reduce federal spending.
HUD Employee Terminations
This past Valentine’s Day, former HUD employee Jayna Lennon was just days away from completing her probationary period when she received a termination letter. “It was really surreal. Yeah, it was a crazy day,” Lennon said. Often called the front door to HUD, Lennon worked in the department’s Office of Field, Policy and Management. Among the jobs of that team is answering thousands of calls guiding residents to HUD resources. “A lot of times, questions were about fair housing complaints,” Lennon recalled. “Without us, those calls will go unanswered.”
Impact on Fair Housing Grants
In 2023, HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity awarded about $30 million in grants to nonprofits nationwide. The money helped investigate and litigate housing discrimination and educate communities of their rights. On Saturday, The Associated Press reported the Trump administration plans to cut nearly half of the 162 HUD grants to organizations for fair housing. “Without federal funding, those agencies will not be able to do the same work, and if HUD internally has less capacity, it just really dismantles a system to protect housing against housing discrimination,” Lennon said.
Consequences of Cuts
Without federal funding, those agencies will not be able to do the same work, and if HUD internally has less capacity, it just really dismantles a system to protect housing against housing discrimination. The consequences of these cuts will be devastating, said Frank Zhu, a former HUD employee. “The Chicago Housing Authority covers about 80,000 families worth of housing. This includes family choice vouchers, this includes public housing; these are the families where HUB subsidizes a portion of their income to make sure they can cover rent, and if these funds are cut, we’re talking about tens of thousands, maybe millions of families that could lose access to safe and secure housing.”
Community Development Block Grants
According to Zhu, one of the things HUD is most known for is issuing community development block grants. Shelter and youth services, safety, mental health, and supporting people with disabilities are just some of the areas those resources go toward. Now, many of the people who issue those community grants have been let go. “That office within HUD that issues it, that currently has 900 plus employees and as far as we’ve seen, there are plans to cut it down to 150 employees, which is almost an 84% cut,” Zhu said.
Conclusion
The federal cuts to HUD grants threaten to have a devastating impact on housing discrimination efforts. With the loss of hundreds of employees and a significant reduction in grants, the future of fair housing initiatives is uncertain. As former HUD employees like Jayna Lennon and Frank Zhu navigate these challenging times, they are reminded of the importance of community and support.
FAQs
* What is the impact of the federal cuts on HUD grants?
The cuts will significantly reduce the number of grants available to organizations, potentially dismantling the system to protect housing against housing discrimination.
* How many HUD employees have been terminated?
Hundreds of HUD employees have been terminated as part of efforts to reduce federal spending.
* What is the purpose of community development block grants?
Community development block grants support shelter and youth services, safety, mental health, and supporting people with disabilities, among other areas.
* What is the impact of the proposed cuts on the Chicago Housing Authority?
The proposed cuts could result in tens of thousands, maybe millions of families losing access to safe and secure housing.
