How HUD Budget Cuts Affect Local Communities

As we reported in last week's report, according to preliminary budget documents for fiscal year 2018 that were leaked, the Trump administration has considered more than $6 billion in cuts at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). We know that Trump's HUD budget cuts would disproportionately impact cities' poorest residents. Cities and counties are not taking this news lightly:

  • CHICAGO: Eight Arrested at Downtown Protest Against Trump's Budget Cut:
    "Eight people were arrested on Tuesday during the eighth #ResistTrumpTuesday protest, which focused on President Donald Trump's proposed budget cuts to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. 'For us here in Illinois it means less direct rental assistance payments including section 8 housing, housing vouchers for homeless veterans would be cut by at least $300 million,' said one organizer." Chicagoist
  • NEW ORLEANS: New Orleans Braces for Deep Cuts in Trump's Spending Plan: "The elimination of the Department of Housing and Urban Development's community development block grant program, which sent almost $11.3 million to New Orleans last year, is a chief concern of the Landrieu administration. The city uses that money annually to finance affordable housing measures, find shelter and permanent housing for homeless people and subsidize summer camps and jobs for teenagers and young adults living in New Orleans. It has also been a funding source for Landrieu's anti-blight program and for housing people with HIV or AIDS." The Times Picayanne
  • NEW YORK: President Trump's $75M funding cut to New York City Housing Authority poses 'gravest threat' in city public housing history: "NYCHA is now facing more than $75 million in budget cuts this year from the Trump administration — and officials warned more may be on the way. NYCHA chair Shola Olatoye testified Monday that the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development has notified the city of a new $40.5 million cut to Section 8, on top of more than $35 million estimated last week — bringing the total blow to the city so far to $75.8 million." New York Daily News

These cuts are not hurting only liberal cities. Cities and counties that voted for Trump are negatively impacted, too.

  • MARICOPA COUNTY, ARIZONA: Trump's proposed budget cuts to this HUD program will impact more than a quarter million Arizonans: "Eleven agencies in Arizona received $5.8 million in grant money to assist those in poverty. If the grants are eliminated, 232,217 low-income individuals in Arizona would be directly affected, according to [the] National Association for State Community Service Programs. That would include 67,068 children, 32,317 people with disabilities, 25,780 people who lacked health insurance, and 24,114 seniors." Phoenix Business Journal
  • OKLAHOMA CITY: Local Agencies Face Cuts Under Proposed Federal Budget "Under the new plan, most of the federal funding for housing services and senior assistance programs would disappear. Neighborhood Housing Services Oklahoma uses up to $10 million in federal dollars each year to help families achieve housing." News Nine
  • WISCONSIN COUNTIES: "At present, the Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council and its satellite offices, the Fair Housing Center of Greater Madison and the Fair Housing Center of Northeast Wisconsin, deploy [Community Development Block Grant] CDBG dollars to provide essential fair housing enforcement and education services in 11 jurisdictions: Madison, Dane County, Waukesha County, Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, Milwaukee County, Fond du Lac,Neenah, Appleton, Green Bay, and Oshkosh. Without these local contracts, our ability to enforce fair housing laws and assist victims of illegal discrimination would be markedly reduced. Poverty in Wisconsin is at the highest level in 30 years." Fair Housing Wisconsin

Wisconsin Counties Deep Dive


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Rise Stronger's Infrastructure and Urban Policy Working Group took a look at those eleven communities impacted by HUD budget cuts. More than half of the communities receiving Community Development Block Grant funding in Wisconsin voted for President Trump:

  1. Madison (within Dane County)
  2. Dane County
  3. Waukesha County
  4. Milwaukee (within Milwaukee County)
  5. Wauwatosa (within Milwaukee County)
  6. Milwaukee County
  7. Fond du Lac
  8. Neenah (within Winnebago County)
  9. Appleton (mostly within Outagamie County; also in Calumet and Winnebago Counties)
  10. Green Bay (within Brown County)
  11. Oshkosh (within Winnebago County)

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Hillary Clinton lost by 22,748 votes in Wisconsin, and now, President Trump is turning his back on those hardest hit in the state. - Image from the New York Times


What You Can Do

Questions to Ask Your Member of Congress

  • When will President Trump nominate a HUD Deputy Secretary?
  • Are you in favor of the Trump Administration's proposed $6 billion cut to the HUD budget?
  • How will a proposed infrastructure bill prioritize performance-based infrastructure and projects that deliver economic, social and environmental benefits—such as jobs, improved mobility and climate resiliency?
  • Will the stream of federal dollars for an infrastructure plan go directly to communities rather than solely to states?

- Infrastructure & Urban Policy Working Group, RISE Stronger

Have comments or something to add? Contact the RISE Infrastructure & Urban Policy Working Group at [email protected]