White House Suggests Ending Section 8 Housing Assistance

The White House recently proposed major changes to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), including getting rid of Section 8 housing vouchers and cutting rental assistance by about 40%.

Section 8 vouchers are a federal program that helps low-income families pay for housing.

The White House’s plan, first reported by NPR, would replace the current system with block grants given to state governments. Officials said the current system doesn’t work well and believe states should have the freedom to create their own rental assistance programs based on their specific needs.

Under the plan, rental aid for adults considered able-bodied would be limited to two years, with more money directed toward elderly and disabled people.
 

Concerns About Increased Homelessness

Housing experts are worried these cuts could lead to a rise in homelessness across the country. Kim Johnson of the National Low Income Housing Coalition told NPR that homelessness could increase to levels not seen before.

Right now, only about one in four families eligible for rental assistance actually receives it. Ann Oliva, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, said the proposed cuts would have devastating effects, noting, “Cutting that really feels like cutting into the bone.”

Oliva also expressed concerns over changes to funding for homelessness programs. The new plan focuses more on funding temporary shelters rather than supporting permanent housing solutions.

She pointed out that homelessness is an issue that happens in local communities and neighborhoods, so reducing local control over funding could make the problem worse.
 

States Would Take On More Responsibility

If the proposal is approved, states would have more authority over how housing money is spent. However, they would have less funding overall. According to NPR, similar block grant programs in the past have often led to money being used for purposes other than direct aid.

Advocates are worried that the reduced federal support could hurt families in need. Jessica Kubicki from The Housing Collective in Connecticut warned about ripple effects, such as overcrowded schools, increased demand for food programs, and even more people relying on emergency room services.

Kubicki highlighted how kids in struggling families often don’t get proper sleep, perform poorly in school, and have trouble accessing enough food.
 

Cuts to Other Housing Programs

The new federal budget proposal also calls for eliminating several programs tied to affordable housing. These include funding for building affordable homes, enforcing fair housing laws, and grants for improving local communities. The administration claims some of the money meant for improvement projects has been misused, citing examples like skate parks and concert venues.

At the same time, assistance programs created during the COVID-19 pandemic are running out faster than expected due to rising rents. HUD warned local agencies that this emergency funding may be completely gone by next year.

Over the past few years, federal support for housing has already been reduced. The Trump administration eliminated thousands of HUD jobs and canceled contracts for programs that help low-income families. Now, the White House seems to be pushing for even deeper cuts to housing assistance.
 

Efforts to Expand Section 8

Despite these proposed changes, some lawmakers are working to expand Section 8 rather than eliminate it. In March, a bipartisan group of U.S. representatives and senators introduced a bill to grow the program and provide more support to low-income families.

However, uncertainty around the federal budget has already had an impact. For example, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles stopped accepting new applications for Section 8 vouchers earlier this year due to funding concerns.

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