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Washington is facing serious threats to housing stability due to anticipated federal budget cuts and policy changes. These actions could eliminate up to $120 million in federal funding that currently supports proven programs that prevent and end homelessness across our state.

Without swift state action, thousands of Washington residents could lose their homes, and many more could be forced to endure longer periods of homelessness.

State lawmakers should offset the expected harm caused by the federal government by creating a $120 million contingency fund in the supplemental budget and by passing policy to provide new flexibility for existing state funds that could be used to sustain existing programs to keep people in their homes.

Key points:

• Proposed policy changes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) would dismantle proven strategies, especially permanent supportive housing, which combines affordable housing with services for people with the highest needs.
• These changes could force more than 5,000 households in Washington into homelessness in 2026 alone, reversing years of progress and increasing costs for emergency systems.

This represents a dramatic and dangerous shift away from evidence-based solutions that work.

The creation of a $120 million contingency fund would offset the potential loss of federal homelessness funds and ensure that people living in permanent supportive housing in Washington can remain in their homes.

Protecting people experiencing homelessness until everyone has a home is a key policy element in our "Roadmap to Housing Justice" - a comprehensive strategy to end the housing and homelessness crisis in Washington. Learn more at wliha.org/roadmap