Washington sues over drastic shift in federal housing aid

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown condemned the Trump administration’s proposed changes to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Continuum of Care program, which would reduce permanent supportive housing funding from 90% to 30%. This shift threatens to push 170,000 individuals into homelessness, prompting Washington and 19 other states to file a lawsuit seeking a preliminary injunction. HUD Secretary Scott Turner maintains that the reforms aim to promote independence and ensure a more means-tested approach to housing aid.

The state currently receives about $120 million annually for permanent supportive housing, primarily benefiting populous counties like King and Pierce. Brown warned that the funding changes could create a humanitarian crisis, as local organizations cannot fill the gaps left by decreased federal support. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Rhode Island, argues that the Trump administration failed to secure necessary congressional authorization for such policy shifts. Lawmakers in Washington expect the issue to dominate discussions in the upcoming legislative session. The case underscores the clash between state and federal priorities regarding housing assistance for vulnerable populations.