FEAR IS THE GOAL
Easy Pickins’ for DOGE
Homeless shelters face drastic cuts, uncertainty
Among those at the bottom of the federal government’s “food chain” — those considered least important — are vulnerable people who lack housing security. So, it’s no surprise that they are under attack by the DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) chainsaw wielders. Of course, the most effective way to attack the millions of families and individuals experiencing homelessness is to go after the beleaguered “systems” that provide them assistance. Here are two examples of what’s happening…
One shelter’s story
I spoke with a respected, long-time shelter director the other day. I won’t identify the person specifically because of the brutal consequences being doled out to anyone speaking against the reshaping of the U.S. government, or hinting at the devastation being caused by the slashing of government services.
This person was pouring over the HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development) contracts that keep various programs operating to assist families and individuals. Across the country, cash-strapped agencies funded by HUD are waiting for a sign that the already-contracted, halted funding will soon flow. According to Shelterforce,
“…the Trump administration’s Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has not sent award letters for any of the $3.6 billion in Continuum of Care homelessness support grants for fiscal year 2024 that were issued under the Biden administration. That’s despite a statutory obligation to issue these funds as well as multiple federal courts ordering the Trump administration to reverse its federal grant freeze.”
I learned that restrictions on who can be served by HUD funds seems to be changing. Following the patterns of anti-DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) seen in other departments, HUD appears to be hellbent on eliminating efforts to ensure fair housing, snuffing out contracts that funded agencies focused on housing discrimination, and clarifying to HUD agencies that these formerly-protected populations [LGBQTI, trans] no longer can be served.
“The department [HUD] has made widespread slashes to initiatives that it said promoted diversity, equity and inclusion programs. ‘DEI is dead at HUD,’ Mr. Turner has repeatedly said in recent weeks.” — New York Times
My friend’s shelter made concerted effort to serve people typically discriminated against. Now they must figure out how to adapt to these reversed policies. Homelessness will certainly increase because of HUD’s directives. But that’s no concern for HUD.
The Three Melissas and DOGE havoc
Those who’ve been reading my posts of late know about our new book, The Three Melissas — The Practical Guide to Surviving Family Homelessness. Here’s an intriguing story about the efforts to get this book into the hands of families and agency personnel.
A woman in her late 40s contacted me about getting copies of our book to distribute to homelessness advocates and providers in her community. This woman and I have history going back 40 years. She, her brother, and her parents were the first homeless family I ever assisted when I started working for Catholic Charities in Joliet, IL.
We’ve kept up loose contact over the years. As I understand, she’s gone through some tough times, but has also accomplished significant milestones — getting a college education, and raising kids and grandkids, among other things. She’s recently spent time living in her car, but things seem to be improving. When she asked about getting copies of our book, I got her address and mailed her some at no charge.
Soon she reported to me that she took the book to the local homeless coalition but they refused it, saying it has to go through the Mayor’s office. The reason given — HUD had changed the rules about who they could serve (that anti-DEI thing), and they were worried about their funding.
Frustrated, but undeterred, she went to City Hall and spoke with a receptive staffer in the legal department. She left him with a copy of the book, and one for the Mayor.
Kudos!
Never did we anticipate that our 3 Melissas book would be the equivalent of banned in the world of homeless shelters. But fear will do strange things.
The amount of turmoil caused by DOGE and ongoing massive government inefficiency wreaks havoc on the most vulnerable. Shelter programs don’t know if they’ll continue operating because their funding source changed significant previously-contracted rules midstream. Those served by HUD-funded programs fear returning to homelessness as this ShelterForce article highlights.
News media can’t begin to cover all of the horror stories Project 2025 has concocted. Executive Orders are issued with no consideration as to impact or legality.
Cruelty seems to be the point. Bullies intimidate the vulnerable. Chaos keeps everyone on edge. And some day we’ll wonder why so many people are homeless.
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