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President Donald Trump announced Friday his administration is proposing a $33.6 billion cut to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which would affect things like rental assistance and housing programs.
Each year, the city of Dallas receives federal funding from HUD; the money helps improve affordable housing, community services, homelessness services, and city infrastructure.
A plan must be submitted every year to receive funds; the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-2026 consolidated budget plan is on its way to be approved by the Dallas City Council, but with the proposed cuts, there might be some setbacks.
Four distinct grants the city receives include the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and the Housing Opportunity for People with Aids (HOPWA).
The administration is proposing to eliminate the CDBG, which supports things like after-school and summer programs for low-income youth, the Dallas Homebuyer Assistance Program, new affordable housing, and improvements for public facilities, to name a few.
The proposal also calls for the elimination of HOME, which provides loans to organizations to develop affordable housing and single-family housing.
While it may affect renters and homebuyers across the U.S, the proposal is getting some praise.
In a statement, HUD Secretary Scott Turner said, “It creates the opportunity for greater partnership and collaboration across levels of government by requiring states and localities to have skin in the game and carefully consider how their policies hinder or advance goals of self-sufficiency and economic prosperity.”
Dallas’ Community Development Commission has some last steps before the city’s $29 million budget can be adopted in June.
The city council has an opportunity to discuss potential amendments at the city council briefing on May 7.
