Federal Funding & Policy Information

Last Updated February 2026

There have been many recent reports and announcements from the federal government about potential changes to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the programs it administers. Home Forward is not a federal agency, but we receive federal funding through HUD.

What You Need to Know

• Congress passed a budget for Transportation, Housing and Urban Development at the beginning of February after a brief government shutdown. This means HUD now has a final, enacted budget for the Fiscal Year 2026.

• Home Forward is analyzing the final, enacted HUD budget to determine its impact on our work, and we continue to monitor federal funding impacts to our housing and programs that many families rely on.

Shortfall status

Home Forward was notified by HUD that we are in “shortfall” status for our Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) and Mainstream Voucher programs. Shortfall means that HUD has determined that the amount of federal funding we’ve been allocated will not cover the costs to operate our programs through the rest of the calendar year.
Shortfall status has been used by HUD for many years. It is common for public housing authorities nationwide, especially those in high-cost housing markets like Multnomah County.
Shortfall status has immediate impacts on Home Forward’s ability to support our community. For example, HUD does not allow us to issue new HCV or Special Purpose Vouchers to families on our waitlist or from other referring systems of care. We may be required to take other cost-saving measures dictated by HUD.
Shortfall status may also present opportunities, such as additional funding from HUD to meet our 2025 spending levels for currently assisted households.
Given these constraints, and the uncertainty we face in the coming fiscal year, Home Forward is focusing on preserving assistance for the households we already serve.

Possible changes in 2026:

Home Forward continues to monitor the federal budget process to advocate for full funding for HUD and housing programs. As we learn more about federal funding for 2026, Home Forward may also have to explore additional cost saving measures and are committed to keeping residents and participants, partners, and the community updated.
Home Forward’s primary goal is the ongoing housing stability of our residents and participants. We will continue to monitor federal funding and policy and share updated information.

Emergency Housing Vouchers

• The Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program was established in 2021 to serve individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Housing authorities, such as Home Forward, were initially told the program was funded through 2030.

• HUD notified all public housing authorities that funding for the EHV program will end in 2026. Based on information from HUD, Home Forward anticipates that the funding for our EHV program will run out in the fall of 2026.

• In November 2025, Home Forward notified all EHV households of the early sunset of the program and loss of their rent assistance in the fall of 2026.

• HUD has allowed Home Forward to automatically add all EHV families to our tenant-based Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program waitlist. All EHV households assisted as of November 13, 2025 have been added to the HCV waitlist and given a preference.

• However, Home Forward is not currently issuing new vouchers from our HCV waitlist.

• This means that even though EHV families are now on the HCV waiting list with a preference, Home Forward may not be able to issue vouchers before the EHV program funding ends.

• Home Forward is working to identify possible housing opportunities within our buildings for individuals and families currently receiving EHV assistance. However, we do not know if we will be able to identify enough resources for all currently assisted EHV families.

• Home Forward will notify EHV families 90 days in advance of the expiration of their rental assistance.

• It is important for families and partners to know that right now – in 2025 and for most of 2026 – EHV families do not need to move, no one’s rent is changing at this time, and that Home Forward will communicate to families before any changes take effect.

Immigration Status & Housing Eligibility

• In 2025, the Department of Homeland Security signed an agreement with HUD to work together to ensure that housing assistance is provided only to people who are U.S citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents (green card holders), and other people with lawful immigration status (such as asylees or refugees).

• The agreement does not change any laws or current HUD rules; however, it signals that the rules could change in the future. As of now, households with mixed immigration status remain eligible for prorated federal housing assistance.

• Home Forward has always been required to share certain information with the federal government, including certain citizenship and eligibility information of residents and participants. Home Forward has developed guidance [English, Vietnamese, Somali, Russian, Spanish] on what information we are required to share with the federal government.

How to Contact Your Elected Representatives

It’s important that your elected representatives in Congress hear from you about how these changes may impact you, your family, and your community. You can call your congressional representatives at 202-224-3121 to tell them to support full funding for housing programs. You can also find contact information for your elected officials at www.usa.gov/elected-officials.