PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Major changes to federal homelessness funding could lead to thousands more people living on Phoenix streets, according to housing advocates and local officials responding to new Trump administration policies.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development announced guidelines that shift federal funding away from long-term housing programs towards transitional housing and drug addiction services with work requirements.
Maricopa County faces $32 million loss
Maricopa County stands to lose $32 million in federal assistance and nearly 1,400 housing units under the policy changes, according to the Maricopa Association of Governments.
“What the Trump administration wants to do is virtually eliminate all Housing First policies – instead just transition to emergency beds – rounding people off streets gathering them in emergency beds without wrap around services like healthcare, mental health services, maybe substance abuse services, whatever is causing homelessness solve that problem that’s smart policy and this Trump policy is step in wrong direction,” said Arizona Congressman Greg Stanton, a Phoenix Democrat.
HUD defends new approach
In a statement, the Department of Housing and Urban Development said the new policies will restore accountability and promote self-sufficiency by addressing the root causes of homelessness, including illicit drugs and mental illness.
The policy makes significant cuts to funding for long-term housing while reallocating money to transitional housing and drug addiction services that include work requirements.
Overall funding for homelessness will also increase from $3.6 billion to $3.9 billion.
Local advocates predict surge in street homelessness
Kerwin Brown, executive director of the Tanner Community Development Corporation, a nonprofit devoted to helping homeless veterans, said he does not believe cutting long-term housing will improve the homeless problem.
“I don’t think there’s any question that the homeless population here in Phoenix is going to increase,” Brown said. “Cutting resources is not going to solve or make the housing situation any better.”
According to the Maricopa Association of Governments, cuts to long-term housing could cause a 35% to 50% increase in homelessness in the next few months, as funding for current programs runs out.
“If you are typically housing people just to go through a program with idea that at end of program they have to leave – where do they go after that? You’re not solving housing problem by sending someone through temporary treatment,” Brown said.
One expert who works with the homeless predicts the cuts to long-term housing could result in between 3,500 and 5,000 more people living on Phoenix streets by February.
Phoenix mayor calls policy ‘reckless’
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego released a statement calling the federal decision “ill-conceived and reckless.”
“There’s no way to sugar coat it: This ill-conceived and reckless decision will increase homelessness in America. With this action, HUD is severely limiting the proven tools we have to help our most vulnerable people get off the streets, into permanent supportive housing, and on the path to ending their homelessness,” Gallego said.
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