President Trump is seeking to eliminate the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, a grant that supports affordable housing in rural areas.
The proposed 2026 budget includes a 51% cut in gross discretionary funding from HUD, potentially eliminating both parts of Section 8 and replacing it with state-administered block grants.
Proposed rules could set a two-year time limit for voucher recipients and make housing assistance conditional on work status.
Researchers estimate that 1.4 million households nationwide could lose housing vouchers if the proposed time limit is implemented.
San Francisco voucher recipients face especially high displacement risks due to the severe gap between average rents and incomes.
Why this matters: These changes could lead to increased housing instability, displacement, and homelessness for millions of low-income individuals and families. The cuts would disproportionately affect rural communities and high-cost urban areas where affordable housing is already scarce.
The HOME Investment Partnerships Program, started in the 1990s, has helped build or repair over 1.3 million affordable homes. Proposed cuts would reduce the ability of nonprofits to build affordable homes, especially in rural areas. Trump's administration argues that the Section 8 program is subject to "waste, fraud and abuse," and that assistance should be temporary to incentivize self-sufficiency.
However, critics argue that a two-year limit on Section 8 vouchers is unrealistic, especially in cities like San Francisco where market rents are far beyond the reach of low-income residents. Data shows that San Francisco voucher enrollees typically need to pay 1.6 times their monthly paychecks just to cover housing expenses, highlighting the severity of the affordability crisis.
Some jurisdictions have experimented with work requirements and time limits on voucher programs, but many have reversed course due to administrative difficulties and the inability of enrollees to increase their incomes sufficiently.
Q: What is the HOME Investment Partnerships Program?
It's a federal grant program that helps fund affordable housing in rural areas.
Q: What is Section 8?
It includes two rental assistance programs: project-based Section 8 and the housing choice voucher program, which helps low-income families, elderly persons, veterans, and disabled individuals afford housing in the private market.
Q: What are the proposed changes to Section 8?
The 2026 budget proposes a 51% cut in HUD funding, potentially eliminating Section 8 and replacing it with state-administered block grants. There's also a proposal to set a two-year time limit on assistance, with exceptions for the elderly and people with disabilities.
Proposed cuts to federal housing programs could significantly reduce the availability of affordable housing.
Low-income renters, particularly in high-cost areas, face increased risks of housing instability and displacement.
The debate over these changes highlights the ongoing tension between the need for affordable housing and concerns about government spending and program effectiveness.
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