John,

Congress has underfunded housing and homelessness resources for decades and now after dramatic increases in housing costs and price gouging by corporate landlords, many families are struggling to keep a roof over their heads.

A new report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) reveals that homelessness increased by 12%, or 70,650 more people, in 2023—a record high.¹ On a single night in January of 2023, 653,100 people—20 out of every 10,000 people in the U.S.—were experiencing homelessness.²

And Congress’ “solution” is, sadly, to make it worse.

When Congress returns next week, they need to immediately work to pass funding bills or we’ll face a partial government shutdown on January 19th. Speaker Mike Johnson is threatening to cut current funding levels, which would eliminate housing assistance for nearly 700,000 households and produce 3,000 fewer units of affordable housing.³ Even the Senate’s bipartisan bill that substantially increases funding for the Housing Choice Vouchers—America’s largest rental assistance program—wouldn’t fund all existing vouchers and would leave 6,000 families without assistance.⁴

In the richest nation in the world, no one should be without safe, stable housing. Join us in calling on Congress to fully invest in funding for housing and homelessness programs now. Click here to take action today >>

Our housing assistance under current law is grossly inadequate. 3 out of 4 families who need and qualify for assistance don’t receive any at all, often placed on waiting lists that can take years to receive a voucher.⁵ From June 2020 to June 2023, rents increased by 28% while the average cost of a voucher increased by 17% during that same period.⁶ If Congress doesn’t ensure there is adequate funding for housing assistance and vouchers don’t keep up with rent costs, families will not be able to afford housing and even more could face homelessness. At a time when more help is needed, fewer will get it.

Housing is a basic human right. We must fight to ensure everyone is securely housed. Send a message to Congress demanding they invest in housing and community services, not put these critical programs at risk.

Thank you for all you do,

Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs

¹ Homelessness in the U.S. jumped to record level in 2023, government says
² The 2023 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR to Congress) Part 1: Point-In-Time Estimates of Homelessness, December 2023
³ Implications of a Date-Change, Full-Year CR
⁴ Final Appropriations Package Will Need Additional Funding to Avoid Rental Assistance Cuts
⁵ Long Waitlists for Housing Vouchers Show Pressing Unmet Need for Assistance
⁶ Final Appropriations Package Will Need Additional Funding to Avoid Rental Assistance Cuts