Housing First
Coverage of Housing First in the Nexus archive.
- Multistate coalition sues federal government over ‘unlawful’ homeless funding conditions
A 24-state coalition, led by Washington, New York, and Rhode Island, sued the Trump administration over HUD's changes to homeless funding conditions, challenging the shift away from the Housing First model. The lawsuit alleges these changes will increase homelessness and violate the Administrative Procedure Act by altering the Continuum of Care program's funding priorities.
- Judge shoots down Trump’s homeless funding shift: ‘The hallmark of unreasoned decision making’
A federal judge rejected the Trump administration's 2025 attempt to divert homeless funding from permanent housing to temporary shelters and sobriety-focused programs, calling the decision 'unreasoned.' The ruling preserves the longstanding 'housing first' model but stops short of banning future changes. California and other states, along with housing advocates, challenged the policy, which limited permanent housing funding to 30% of a $4 billion program.
- Judge shoots down Trump’s homeless funding shift: ‘The hallmark of unreasoned decision making’
A federal judge rejected the Trump administration's attempt to divert 2025 homeless funding away from permanent housing, calling the decision 'unreasoned.' The ruling preserves California's use of federal funds for long-term housing, which the administration sought to limit to 30% of a $4 billion program. The judge allowed the administration to pursue future changes but criticized HUD's failure to assess the impact of its abrupt shift from the 'housing first' model.
- New HUD rules put $26M of King County’s homelessness funding at risk
New HUD rules could jeopardize $26 million of King County's homelessness funding. Advocates argue that homelessness has risen not due to Housing First policies but because these policies have not been sufficiently scaled in Seattle.
- Pushing Treatment, Trump Administration Limits Housing Aid for Homeless
The Trump administration is limiting housing aid for the homeless and promoting treatment-focused approaches. Housing Secretary Scott Turner criticized the Housing First model, stating it 'failed Americans by warehousing the vulnerable without results.'
- Year-over-year homelessness declines
The U.S. homeless population declined by 3% in 2025 compared to 2024, driven by fewer people in emergency shelters and unsheltered settings. However, homelessness increased in 28 states, with North Carolina seeing a 33% rise due to Hurricane Helene. Hawaii and Illinois reported the largest percentage decreases (41% and 44%, respectively).
- Homelessness is down in California and across the country, new federal report says
The federal report shows a 2.8% decrease in California's homeless population and a 3.3% nationwide drop in 2025, marking the first decline since 2016. The Trump administration attributes the decline to reduced immigration in sanctuary cities, while the National Homelessness Law Center credits former President Joe Biden's funding for housing initiatives. California and 18 other states are challenging the Trump administration's shift toward sobriety-based housing and temporary shelters.
- Housing First is a disaster. I saw Sacramento's homeless chaos firsthand
California adopted the Housing First policy in 2016, leading to a significant rise in homelessness, particularly in Sacramento County, where the homeless population more than doubled. The policy, which provides subsidized housing without requiring sobriety or treatment, has resulted in environmental decay, public disorder, and overcrowded encampments.
- ‘Housing First’ became housing only
The Trump administration is shifting focus from the 'Housing First' approach to address homelessness by emphasizing treatment, recovery, and self-sufficiency. Programs with measurable results in these areas are being prioritized.