The legal battle intensifies as Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell spearheads a lawsuit against the Trump administration over HUD policy changes that critics say will exacerbate homelessness. As reported by Mass.gov, Campbell, along with 20 states, has filed a complaint citing that the new restrictions on Continuum of Care grants would lead to a significant reduction in funds for permanent housing, potentially leaving thousands without a roof over their heads.
With the implementation of these restrictions, the ability for grant programs to renew and ensure housing continuity is at risk, a matter that AG Campbell described as "cruel and illegal policies that harm our residents and impede our progress." HUD's historical allocation had been firmly in the ballpark of 90% for permanent housing, but under the new rule, this would be cut by two-thirds, a shift Campbell and the joining states believe to be unauthorized by Congress. HUD's rulemaking process, which typically requires congressional authorization and adherence to established guidelines, was bypassed in this case, prompting the coalition to argue that HUD's actions flout legal expectations and prior precedents.
The lawsuit doesn't only point to financial cuts but also calls out discriminatory policies introduced by HUD. These include measures that fail to acknowledge more than two genders and impose participation requirements on individuals seeking housing support. As reported by Mass.gov, the HUD's policy shift particularly marginalizes individuals with mental health or substance-use disorders, as well as the transgender community, as it imposes conditionalities previously absent under the "Housing First" model that prizes housing stability without stringent preconditions.
AG Campbell's stance is robustly supported by findings that housing stability is foundational for addressing larger societal needs such as job training, health care, and substance use treatment. Her concerns were articulated in a statement where she highlighted the repercussions of HUD's new direction, with potentially dire outcomes for those reliant on these services. "Massachusetts has a housing crisis, and it affects all of us – families, seniors, students and young people alike. Research has shown that getting people off the streets and into stable housing builds a foundation for addressing other pressing needs like job training, mental health care, and substance use treatment," AG Campbell told Mass.gov. "Instead of helping us tackle our critical housing problem, the federal government is standing in our way and putting thousands of vulnerable people at risk."
In the comprehensive coalition challenging HUD's policy, AG Campbell is joined by a diverse group of attorneys general and two governors representing states across the nation. The plaintiffs hold that the sweeping changes represent a fundamental shift in the country's treatment of its most vulnerable citizens. The coalition’s lawsuit charges that HUD overstepped its jurisdiction by failing to undertake proper rulemaking procedures and disregarding legal obligations to receive congressional approval for such dramatic amendments to policy. This case continues to develop as parties await further legal proceedings and responses from HUD and the Trump administration.
