Boston's leadership, including Mayor Michelle Wu, is taking a stand against the Trump administration's new restrictions on funding solutions for homelessness. The city, alongside 11 other jurisdictions and nonprofit organizations, filed a lawsuit to halt the changes that threaten to leave many vulnerable individuals without a roof over their heads. The policy shift would cut approximately $29 million from Boston's permanent supportive housing projects, which have been integral in aiding those previously without homes, particularly as the winter months loom.
In a statement obtained by the City of Boston's official website, Mayor Wu criticized the administration's move as potentially catastrophic, arguing it could lead to more than 1,100 Bostonians becoming homeless. The City has long benefitted from the HUD's Continuum of Care (CoC) Program, which, since the early 1990s, has granted considerable funds to local governments and organizations. This year, Boston was awarded roughly $48 million but, with the new criteria enforced, existing services are under threat.
The CoC grants in Boston have traditionally funded programs addressing a gamut of needs including permanent supportive housing for people with disabilities, and rapid re-housing for those exiting homelessness. These efforts, backed by 19 nonprofit organizations, have played a significant role in supporting the city's anti-homelessness work. Sheila A. Dillon, Chief of Housing, told the City of Boston's official website that the proposed federal changes endanger the well-being of residents reliant on this fundamental support.
The coalition challenging the new HUD restrictions runs deep, with partners such as the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH), the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), and several cities like San Francisco and King County lending their might to the legal fray. According to the same official release the National Homelessness Law Center and Public Rights Project are providing representation to the plaintiffs. These groups, along with dedicated lawyers from Rhode Island and the ACLU Foundation of RI, collectively argue for the necessity of sustained federal support for housing and related services.
Sources within these organizations point to the tangible benefits of the programs currently under fire. Lyndia Downie, President and Executive Director of Pine Street Inn, highlighted in the official Boston statement the success of their permanent supportive housing, indicating a 98% yearly tenant retention rate and praising its efficacy. Larry Seamans, President & CEO of FamilyAid, stressed the critical role CoC programming plays in ensuring housing stability for families, particularly children at risk of entering an already overwhelmed foster care system. The national repercussions are just as dire, with Joyce Tavon, CEO of the Massachusetts Housing & Shelter Alliance (MHSA), pointing out that nearly 4,000 households statewide could revert to homelessness.
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