A federal judge ruled for the third time that the Trump administration's ideologically driven funding changes to vital homelessness programs are unlawful. This ruling halted Trump’s most recent attacks on homelessness programs, which would have forced evicted nearly 100,000 people from their stable housing. As Antonia Fasanelli, the Law Center’s Executive Director, said, "Today's victory, which comes amidst coordinated attacks on our homeless neighbors, strengthens our resolve to ensure that
everybody has the housing, care, and support they need to flourish."
Unfortunately, HUD has chosen to appeal the decision. While their first appeal was rejected, their second appeal is now pending. Please follow along for additional updates as we have them.
Last week, the Law Center stood with members of Congress on Capitol Hill to introduce the No Homeless Detention Centers Act, legislation to stop federal dollars from being spent on forcing homeless people into camps or other detention-like facilities or promoting forced labor for homeless people. The bill was endorsed by nearly 40 organizations around the country and co-sponsored by nineteen members of Congress.
As Eric Tars, the Law Center's Senior Policy Director, said, "We are here today, because it is necessary to fight back against the Trump Administration that is aggressively erasing decades of data-based progress on solving homelessness and instead promoting jails, labor camps, warehouses, and asylums, not because there is any evidence to support them, but because the right-wing Cicero Institute is spoon-feeding Trump detention policies that will enrich its billionaire-backers financially – and benefit
him politically."
On August 11, 2025, Trump began his ongoing takeover of Washington, DC, sending in National Guard troops and federal agents to patrol DC’s streets. From the very beginning, Trump made it clear that attacks on homeless Washingtonians would be central to this takeover. One year later, these
attacks have made solving homelessness harder, making DC less safe, and forced us all to pay the price.
Op-ed breaks down impacts of Trump's anti-homeless Executive Order, one year later
Jesse Rabinowitz, the Law Center’s Campaign and Communications Director, published an op-ed in The Root about the one-year anniversary of Trump’s anti-homeless EO. The op-ed focuses on how the EO how it became a blueprint for the Trump administration’s far-reaching and disastrous changes to homelessness policy, from the DC takeover to funding cuts and backwards programs at federal agencies. It also explains how Trump’s attacks on homeless
people are part of his administration’s broader authoritarian agenda.
Webinar on Trump's EO brings together advocates from across the country
More than 400 people from across the country attended our webinar marking the one-year anniversary of Trump’s EO. On the webinar, we heard from advocates in DC, Utah, and Louisiana; national experts in homelessness, drug policy, and mental health; and members of Congress leading the fight against Trump's anti-homeless policies.
We're hiring! Join the Law Center team
Are you an attorney committed to advancing systemic change through litigation, advocacy, and movement building (or do you know someone who is)? The Law Center is looking for a Civil Rights Director to lead our work to end the criminalization of homelessness and advance the rights of people experiencing homelessness.
Join us for the Human Right to Housing Awards!
It's been a difficult year in the movement to end homelessness, but we know that joy and community is essential to sustaining ourselves and our shared work to solve homelessness. Join us this years for our Human Right to Housing Awards, happening on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, to celebrate change-makers from across the country who have advanced housing justice. Tickets are free, and we hope you will join us in celebrating this year's remarkable honorees.
Good news:
Athens, Georgia: Residents mobilized to defeat a last-minute camping ban proposal, with dozens packing City Hall to speak up for the rights of homeless neighbors! As one community leader said, “This doesn’t solve the underlying problem,
it shifts it, and each shift makes the person harder to reach.”
Pendelton, Oregon: The city repealed their camping ban ordinance after a lawsuit brought by our partners at the Oregon Law Center!
Los Angeles,
California: In response to years of organizing, councilmembers voted to remove anti-camping measures across multiple city neighborhoods. As one councilmember put it, “ Displacing our neighbors from block to block, or in many cases from district to district, doesn’t help them find housing.”
September reading list:
