Federal Funding & Policy Information

Last Updated October 2026

There have been many announcements from the federal government about potential changes to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the programs it administers. Home Forward is not a federal agency, but we receive federal funding through HUD.

Emergency Housing Vouchers

• HUD announced on September 29, 2026, that households leasing a home with an Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) on September 30, 2026, will continue to receive rent assistance.

• By the end of December 2026, all eligible EHV households will have their assistance converted to Tenant Protection Vouchers (TPV) in the Housing Choice Voucher program, with no interruption or action needed by assisted households. TPVs will last as long as the former EHV household remains eligible for assistance and can be used to move to new rental housing.

• EHV households that are not leased up as of 9/30/2026 are no longer eligible for ongoing rent assistance under the EHV program. Home Forward is actively exploring other options including limited rental assistance.

Possible changes in 2026:

Home Forward continues to monitor the federal budget process to advocate for full funding for HUD and housing programs. As we learn more about federal funding for 2026, Home Forward may also have to explore additional cost saving measures and are committed to keeping residents and participants, partners, and the community updated.
Home Forward’s primary goal is the ongoing housing stability of our residents and participants. We will continue to monitor federal funding and policy and share updated information.

EHV Background

• The Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program was established in 2021 to serve individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Public housing authorities such as Home Forward were initially told the program was funded through 2030.

• In 2025, HUD notified all public housing authorities that funding for the EHV program will end in 2026 – earlier than expected.

• In November 2025, Home Forward notified all EHV households of the early sunset of the program and likely loss of rent assistance in the fall of 2026.

• Home Forward added all EHV families assisted as of November 13, 2025 to our tenant-based Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program waitlist with a priority. However, Home Forward is not issuing new vouchers from our HCV waitlist due to funding and budget constraints in 2026 and 2027.

• All EHV households who were not eligible to transition to the TPV will remain on the HCV waitlist with a priority. Since EHV households transitioning to a TPV will have a type of Housing Choice Voucher, they will be removed from the HCV waitlist.

• In February 2026, Home Forward offered all EHV households the opportunity to be added to the waitlists for many of our affordable housing buildings with a priority. This offer was renewed in October 2026 for all EHV households that are not eligible to transition to a TPV. All EHV households currently on a Home Forward building waitlist will remain on that waitlist, whether or not they are eligible to transition to a TPV.

Immigration Status & Housing Eligibility

Information Sharing related to Immigration Status

• In 2025, the Department of Homeland Security signed an agreement with HUD to work together to ensure that housing assistance is provided only to people who are U.S citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents (green card holders), and other people with lawful immigration status (such as asylees or refugees). The agreement did not change any laws or current HUD rules. Home Forward has always been required to share certain information with the federal government, including certain citizenship and eligibility information of residents and participants. Home Forward has developed guidance [English, Vietnamese, Somali, Russian, Spanish] to explain what information we are required to share with the federal government.

Proposed Rule on Eligibility based on Immigration Status

• In February 2026, HUD published a proposed rule that would require proof of citizenship or eligible immigration status for every member of a household residing in HUD-assisted housing or receiving most forms of rental assistance from HUD.

• The current rules allow households that include members without eligible immigration status, often referred to as mixed-status families, to receive prorated assistance based on the number of eligible members. The proposed rule would require all household members to verify eligible immigration status and end prorated assistance.

• The proposed rule has not been made a final rule and households with mixed immigration status are still eligible for housing with prorated assistance.

How to Contact Your Elected Representatives

It’s important that your elected representatives in Congress hear from you about how federal actions and changes may impact you, your family, and your community. You can call your congressional representatives at 202-224-3121 to tell them to support full funding for housing
programs. You can also find contact information for your elected officials at www.usa.gov/elected-officials.