DeLauro, Clyburn Lead Over 200 House Members in Letter to HUD Secretary to Prevent 170,000 People from Losing Homes in Dead of Winter

WASHINGTON – Today, House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Ranking Member James Clyburn led 204 of their House colleagues in a letter to Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner, requesting the Department work with Congress to prevent 170,000 people from losing their homes in the dead of winter.

On top of the more than 770,000 people currently without housing throughout the United States, 170,000 more people would be pushed out of their homes as a result of the Trump administration’s significant and unnecessary delay in making applications available for Continuum of Care (CoC) grants – known as a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) – coupled with new restrictions within the CoC program.

“Nearly $3.7 billion in CoC grants awarded nationally during the FY24 cycle will begin expiring on December 31, 2025. The timing of the FY25 CoC NOFO represents the most delayed issuance of a NOFO for the CoC Program over the last 10 years, and consequentially, will result in the most prolonged funding gap for this critical homelessness prevention program,” the letter states. “We believe that the timing of the issuance of the NOFO, combined with major policy changes for the FY25 competition, will cause major disruptions to homeless services at the local level through the Winter and into Spring 2026, threatening housing assistance for at least 170,000 people currently served through the CoC Program.”

HUD’s Continuum of Care program is one of the nation’s largest and most effective programs in combatting homelessness. More than 750,000 veterans, unaccompanied youth, people with disabilities, victims of domestic violence, and other struggling Americans rely on its support across the country.

Ranking Member DeLauro and Senate Appropriations Ranking Member Patty Murray introduced legislation in September which would have prevented this funding shortfall, as well as a government shutdown. Republicans voted against it. However, the relevant provision is already written and can easily be adapted to another piece of legislation, unless the Trump administration and Republican leadership block it.

“These grants serve as a lifeline for more than 400 communities across the country and we are prepared to work with you to help ensure resources appropriated by this Congress continue to serve those most in need without delay,” the letter concludes. “We appreciate your attention to this critical and timely matter.”

To read the full text of the letter, click here.

The relevant provision in the DeLauro-Murray bill can be found under Sec. 166 here.

A summary of that bill can be found here.

A joint statement from Ranking Members DeLauro and Clyburn can be found here.

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