A new plan from the Trump administration has sparked serious concern among housing advocates, as it could potentially eliminate housing assistance for millions of low-income Americans.
Leaders from the national tenant group Leaders and Organizers for Tenant Empowerment (LOFTE) are speaking out after news broke about a leaked proposal to replace 2.3 million Section 8 vouchers with block grants.
Section 8 vouchers help families cover rent for apartments, townhomes, and single-family homes. The proposed shift to block grants would give local governments more control but likely reduce the amount of federal funding available. Advocates fear this would lead to widespread rent hikes and push more families into homelessness.
This isn’t the first time drastic cuts have been suggested. Back in 2018 and 2019, similar efforts were floated but ultimately failed. Still, housing officials aren’t taking any chances. Some states are already bracing for possible cuts that could impact additional benefits like utility support and security deposit assistance.
Currently, over 23,000 federal vouchers help low-income families afford market-rate housing in many states. If the Trump plan moves forward, that crucial support could be on the chopping block — putting millions at risk of losing their homes.
