We understand your time for advocacy is limited, so COHHIO has been closely monitoring developments in Washington to distinguish real threats from the more speculative concerns. Amid all the chaos, we have identified several areas where your advocacy could prevent damaging cuts to homelessness and housing programs.

Ohio has several members of Congress who could help determine the outcome of debates over federal spending and policies that affect housing-insecure Americans. Please join us in advocating for Ohio’s U.S. Representatives and Senators to protect federal housing funding and staff. Here are the most urgent federal advocacy issues at the moment with links to help you advocate.

1. Continuum of Care Funding – On Jan. 17, HUD announced $3.6 billion for its annual CoC program awards to nearly 7,000 homeless services projects across the U.S. Although it typically takes HUD several months to process CoC grant awards, the Trump Administration’s efforts to freeze federal funding has raised concern that these Fiscal Year 2024 CoC grant awards will ultimately be withheld.

Furthermore, last year Congress created a new two-year funding cycle to reduce the heavy administrative burden surrounding the CoC grant application process. However, the new administration could withdraw the two-year funding commitment in the middle of the FY2024/FY2025 cycle, resulting in more bureaucracy and uncertainty for local efforts to help people escape homelessness.

2. Cuts to HUD Staffing and Technical Assistance – Documents leaked to the press indicate Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) plans to cut HUD’s staffing by half on May 18. HUD’s Office of Community Planning and Development, which oversees homeless and affordable housing programs, is slated to lose 84% of its personnel, according to media reports. Some of HUD’s field staff based in Ohio have already been fired.

Moreover, DOGE last week canceled eight contracts with HUD’s technical assistance providers. Impacted contractors include Enterprise Community Partners, Corporation for Supportive Housing, Technical Assistance Collaborative, LISC, Cloudburst Consulting, BCT Partners, and Homebase Center for Common Concerns. These cuts will impact thousands of providers’ efforts to improve homelessness and housing services in their communities.

3. Medicaid Cuts – Republicans in the U.S. House recently passed a budget reconciliation framework that could force cuts of up to $880 billion to Medicaid, which would likely reverse Ohio’s Medicaid expansion that currently covers 770,000 Ohioans. This would have a devastating impact on homeless Ohioans, who rely on Medicaid for behavioral health services, respite care, and transportation.

4. Budget and Appropriations – Another “continuing resolution” (CR) to fund the federal government at current levels appears likely as the March 14 deadline to avoid a government shutdown approaches. Without any funding increase to cover rising housing costs, or so-called “anomalies” for specific programs, another CR could result in effective cuts to affordable housing and homelessness programs.

COHHIO’s Advocacy Page has additional resources to help you find your Members of Congress and advocate for the resources needed to help people overcome homelessness. If you have any questions or updates to share, please contact COHHIO Advocacy Director Gina Wilt or Advocacy and Policy Coordinator Elizabeth Martindale.

Thank you for advocating to end homelessness and expand affordable housing!

The COHHIO Team