The government shutdown isn't just affecting government workers. It's affecting the most vulnerable populations across the country.
As the government shutdown enters into its fourth week, many on the fringe of society are feeling its effects. Formerly homeless people who have finally found housing through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) face imminent homelessness again. The department reports over 550,000 people were homeless in 2017 and have since then transitioned into permanent housing through its programs. Although a positive outcome, the government shutdown has frozen the department's ability to fund its assistance programs.
Those who rely on this funding have been placed them into precarious situations. Workers who were temporarily laid-off or those who live paycheck to paycheck are at risk of eviction now.
How can formerly homeless people and those who rely on government assistance be put in this situation? Why isn't anyone paying attention?
Most of the attention of this government shutdown has focused on government workers not receiving pay. Those who already exist on the fringe of society aren't being paid any attention by the mainstream.
In my work at a homeless youth program, I have seen the effects of this shutdown first hand. A lot of the youth aren't receiving funding for programs like housing or food assistance and are scrambling to figure out what to do and where they will end up.
They don't know what their future looks like and are living in a state of constant ambivalence.
HUD-funded programs are scraping by with whatever funds are left in their budgets from previous years. However, this is going to run out sooner rather than later, especially if the shutdown continues. Many programs are drafting contingency plans in case the government does not re-open in a timely manner, but the future is bleak. Programs may have to stop operating completely if the shutdown continues, and many are already laying off workers and tightening their budgets.
The biggest threat the government shutdown poses is on the future of government-assisted housing programs. Currently, HUD-funded housing programs rely on private landlords willing to rent to tenants who may not be their version of 'perfect' but do so to comply with regulations and benefits received. If this shutdown jeopardizes this relationship, it will take a great deal of effort to rebuild the trust and compliance with these landlords.
Another looming threat is the misuse of funds allocated for food and housing assistance programs. The money allocated last year is not even close enough to cover the costs for programs this year, and many programs are worried the funds will be used to re-open the government rather than provide the intended assistance.
There is work to be done by all of us.
If you can, and I implore you to do so, send this letter to Congress to end the shutdown and ensure the funding for food and housing programs gets put to proper use. Already drafted by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, the process will take no longer than five minutes.