By Bunmi Yekini
Washington, D.C. – A sweeping set of proposed federal budget cuts released this morning has sparked outrage among housing and public health advocates, who say the changes could devastate affordable housing programs and push tens of thousands of low-income Americans living with HIV toward homelessness.
At the center of the controversy is the Housing Opportunity for People with HIV/AIDS (HOPWA) program, which the budget proposes to consolidate into the Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) program. The change would turn HOPWA into a short-term housing solution, cap assistance at two years, and slash its funding—altering a program that has provided stable housing for people living with HIV for over three decades.
“Changing HOPWA into a short-term, ‘emergency’ grant program misses the point that the emergency has already occurred,” said Lauren Banks, Executive Director of the National HIV/AIDS Housing Coalition (NHAHC). “This proposal would essentially eliminate a program created by Congress to serve those with no other housing options.”
According to the NHAHC, the proposed changes threaten the housing stability of approximately 45,000 HOPWA beneficiaries, including more than 4,000 veterans. Many of these individuals are older than 55 and live with severe disabilities, making long-term housing essential for both their health and safety.
“Without stable housing, medical care for these individuals will be disrupted, leading to worse health outcomes and likely increasing the community spread of HIV,” Banks added.
The budget proposal also outlines several other cuts to housing programs, including:
- Block granting housing programs like Housing Choice Vouchers to states, forcing local governments to shoulder more financial responsibility.
- Eliminating the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, which helps build affordable housing in cities.
- Eliminating the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, a key funding source for rural affordable housing.
- Reducing rental assistance programs by at least 40%, further straining renters and landlords alike.
Advocates warn these moves could deepen the national housing crisis and unravel progress made in public health and housing security.
“The nationwide affordable housing crisis is worsening, and these budget changes would only exacerbate this emergency,” the NHAHC said in a statement. “HIV is a public health issue. People living with HIV can only achieve viral suppression with access to stable housing.”
Currently, more than 2,000 children live in households supported by HOPWA programs.
Calling HIV and homelessness “bipartisan issues,” the Coalition is urging all members of Congress, regardless of party affiliation, to reject the proposed cuts.
“We will fight tirelessly,” said Banks. “Failure is not an option.”