{"id":21472,"date":"2025-11-14T12:14:08","modified":"2025-11-14T12:14:10","slug":"councilmember-rinck-joins-with-king-county-state-and-homelessness-leaders-to-condemn-trump-administration-changes-to-critical-funding-keeping-people-housed","link":"https:\/\/council.seattle.gov\/2025\/11\/14\/councilmember-rinck-joins-with-king-county-state-and-homelessness-leaders-to-condemn-trump-administration-changes-to-critical-funding-keeping-people-housed\/","title":{"rendered":"Councilmember Rinck joins with King County, State and homelessness leaders to condemn Trump Administration changes to critical funding keeping people housed"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Nearly 4,500 Seattle and King County households now stand to lose housing and essential services under the changes to HUD\u2019s Continuum of Care program without regional collaboration and intervention<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On Tuesday, Nov. 13, the Trump Regime released the long-awaited Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO<\/a>) for the Continuum of Care (CoC)<\/a> program within the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These federal dollars are crucial funds used to provide and operate homes for hundreds of thousands of people across the country, and without them homelessness will increase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under these sweeping changes, it is estimated that 170,000 people across the United States could fall into or, in many cases, back into homelessness. Currently, Seattle and King County receive $65 million which is used to contract with nonprofit organizations to house and provide supportive services for nearly 4,500 residents who were or are currently experiencing homelessness. The programmatic and contracting changes announced yesterday include a 30% limit on use of funds to sustain permanent housing. This would be a significant cut compared to current grants which use over 80% for permanent housing. Without local and state government intervention, the region\u2019s network of housing, including dedicated apartment buildings and rental units for families, veterans, people with disabilities, older adults, and youth who were formerly homeless is at grave risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leading up to the NOFO announcement yesterday, elected officials and government leaders from the City of Seattle, King County, and Washington state have convened emergency meetings to create contingency plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because of the months-long delay in the NOFO being made public, current CoC project grants will have already expired before the new award cycle is concluded, which could leave people unhoused as early as the first quarter of 2026. Applications are due Jan. 14, 2026, and the process of reviewing, rating, and making awards takes months. It appears unlikely that any awards will be available before June 2026, but approximately one-third of current CoC recipients\u2019 awards will automatically expire between January and June of next year, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs the Chair of the select committee on Federal Administration and Policy Changes, we have been following this issue closely. This is another cruel policy choice intentionally designed by the Trump Regime to harm our most vulnerable community members, and once again local governments are being asked to step up to meet the moment,\u201d said Seattle City<\/strong> Councilmember <\/strong>Alexis Mercedes Rinck<\/strong><\/a> (Position 8).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cToo many of our unhoused neighbors already die on our streets each year. The potential loss of these federal funds will cut off thousands more of our residents from the lifesaving shelter and housing they rely on. State, regional, and local leaders must work together to uphold our values and protect this essential care to the greatest extent possible,” said King County Councilmember <\/strong>Jorge Bar\u00f3n<\/strong><\/a> (District 4).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe restrictions on supportive housing and services we are seeing from the federal administration in HUD\u2019s new Continuum of Care funding is an existential threat to the housing and support systems our community has worked so hard to build, and which has provided a pathway out of homelessness for thousands of people in our region,” said King County Councilmember <\/strong>Teresa Mosqueda<\/strong><\/a> (District 8). \u201cBut let me be clear: we are not facing this alone. Seattle, King County, our state and federal delegations, our provider partners, and advocates have shown time and again what strong regional partnership looks like \u2014 we have built these programs together, and we will defend them together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWashington state has been a leader in demonstrating how to pair housing and robust services to address homelessness and increase stability in communities across the state. This federal funding represents $120 million, the largest portion of which goes to King County. But with the Trump Administration\u2019s change, our neighbors in need will suffer and communities will see increases in homelessness. State resources are extremely limited and we won\u2019t be able to backfill all of the federal cuts coming in housing, Medicaid, and food assistance \u2014 that is why we rely on federal partners. Coupled with Washington state\u2019s unbalanced tax system failing to keep up with our needs, this change will represent further strain on the state\u2019s ability to help those struggling the most. I\u2019m grateful for the close coordination across local, state and federal leaders to mitigate the harms the federal government continues to inflict on the people of Washington,” said State Rep. <\/strong>Nicole Macri<\/strong><\/a> (43rd Legislative District).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur community has made excellent use of HUD funds to bring thousands of our neighbors home, people who have lived through hardships, trauma, and illness, and been homeless for years. Right now, as the federal government turns its back on housing and services and tries to tear down what we have built together, we urge local government to step up, protect our people and defend our homes. We appreciate those who are demonstrating leadership in this budget season to do just that. We are in this together,\u201d said Alison Eisinger<\/strong> who serves as Executive Director of the Seattle\/King County Coalition on Homelessness<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This follows a letter put out today by 42 U.S. Senate Democrats<\/a> to HUD Secretary Scott Turner decrying the changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s next<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Councilmember Rinck has introduced an amendment (HSD-082-A-1) which would proviso $11.8 million in the City of Seattle\u2019s budget to be used to sustain CoC funded programs so that people do not lose their current housing. This will be heard before the Select Committee on Budget later today, and has been included in the Chair\u2019s Consent Package<\/a> released yesterday. Next Tuesday, Nov. 18, the King County Council will consider Councilmember Mosqueda\u2019s amendment that would set forth King County\u2019s intent to partner with the City of Seattle and the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) on a regional CoC plan. The amendment calls for the County Executive to transmit an appropriations bill for CoC contingency funding by March 16, 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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