Categories: Network Events
08.01.2025
On July 31st, the Network, Housing Works and community-based partners held a statewide “Hands Off Housing” Day of Action to protect critical housing programs, including Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) and the Continuum of Care (CoC).
The proposed FY26 budget from the Trump administration includes a devastating 44% cut to HUD. This would dismantle vital housing infrastructure, eliminating HOPWA entirely and slashing funding for the CoC—the backbone of permanent supportive housing in the U.S. The House and Senate subcommittees each have budget proposals that don’t fully adopt Trump’s cuts, but still do not come close to meeting the need.
Nearly 100 advocates joined rallies directly in the districts of key Congressional decision-makers: Representatives Andrew Garbarino, Nicole Malliotakis, Mike Lawler, and Elise Stefanik. At each rally, tenants, service providers and housing advocates spoke to critical these programs are, what is at stake and urged Congress to fully fund:
- Homeless Assistance Grants, including Continuum of Care (CoC): $4.922 billion.
- Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA): $750 million, including a base funding increase to $600 million and an additional $150 million in Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) funding, to provide additional dollars to jurisdictions with the highest prevalence of HIV.
- Rental assistance and public Housing.
After each rally, select constituents hand-delivered letters of commitment to their representatives calling on them to fully fund and oppose any cuts, consolidations, or harmful policy changes that weaken these life-saving programs
Press coverage from the event:
- Staten Island Advance: Housing advocates warn Trump budget cuts could increase NYC homelessness
- The Post Star: Housing Advocates Rally in Argyle to Halt Federal Funding Cuts
See the press release HERE. See photos from the actions HERE. Help to amplify our message on social media: find sample posts in our toolkit HERE.