Thousands of once-homeless Miamians could lose their housing. Here are 5 takeaways
The Trump administration’s 2026 budget proposal threatens to drastically cut funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, endangering the stability of thousands of formerly homeless individuals with disabilities. The plan marks a significant shift in federal homelessness policy, moving away from the successful Housing First model to a more treatment-based approach that advocates fear could drive up already record-high homelessness numbers.
FULL STORY: ‘I would be homeless’: 4,100+ disabled Miamians could lose housing under Trump budget
Here are the highlights:
The proposed budget cuts nearly $33 billion from HUD, eliminating the $3.7 billion Continuum of Care initiative, which funds local homelessness services. This shift could dismantle the Housing First model, which provides stable housing and support services without requiring individuals to resolve underlying issues first.
Housing First has been praised for its effectiveness in reducing homelessness. Critics argue that the new approach, requiring individuals to address personal issues before receiving long-term housing, could keep people on the streets for longer.
The budget proposal transfers permanent supportive housing money to a short-term housing initiative, which does not subsidize indefinite lodging for formerly homeless people with disabilities. That change may leave many disabled individuals without the necessary time to achieve self-sufficiency.
Local advocates warn that the financial burden of increased street homelessness will fall on local communities, with higher costs for emergency interventions. Miami-Dade County says it’s currently unable to accommodate the population that would be displaced by the federal cuts.
The potential loss of housing subsidies for more than 4,000 Miamians raises concerns about a surge in street homelessness. Local leaders express deep concern about the community’s future if the proposed budget is enacted, leaving many vulnerable individuals at risk of returning to homelessness.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in the Miami Herald newsroom. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by Miami Herald journalists.