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2026-09-18 09:44:09
[US Appeals Court Gives Green Light to Trump Administration's Homelessness Reforms] (1) The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston on Wednesday gave the green light to the Trump administration's major reforms to its homelessness program and funding standards, halting a March ruling by a Rhode Island federal judge that found changes to the Continuing Care (CoC) program illegal. (2) The three-judge panel said HUD had fulfilled its burden of proof, was entitled to a stay of execution on appeal, and strongly argued that its challenge was likely to succeed on substantive issues. The district court had previously held that reserved funds in Notice of Financing Opportunity (NOFO) must comply with notification and comment requirements. (3) HUD is seeking to change the rules for obtaining $75 million to build housing for homeless families and individuals and to reserve $1.3 billion for transitional housing and support services. The program, which has funded state and local governments, tribal governments, and nonprofits since 1987, aims to resettle homeless people and families, those fleeing violence, and others in need; Congress enacted it into law in 2009. (4) HUD Secretary Scott Turner said on social media Wednesday night that this was a step in the right direction to deliver real and lasting results that serve the most vulnerable, not a failing ideology and those who profit from it. (5) One of the plaintiffs, the National Coalition to End Homelessness, said it would assess the next steps. The plaintiffs said that despite multiple wins in lower courts, today’s ruling would allow HUD to completely overturn this key program by eliminating funding for the Permanent Housing Solution, potentially pushing 100,000 Americans into homelessness. (6) The Trump administration criticized the program’s “housing-first” approach. District Judge Mary McElroy, nominated by Trump, had previously blocked the administration from making these changes. Democratic officials and advocacy groups in 20 states and Washington, D.C., filed a lawsuit saying the changes to the CoC threw it into “chaos.” Massachusetts Attorney General Campbell said the Trump administration had not helped address the housing crisis but instead blocked it, putting thousands of vulnerable people at risk.
