Nearly 60,000 Americans are expected to lose their federal housing assistance years earlier than promised, raising alarm about the future of a nationwide effort designed to stabilize access to long-term housing.
The emergency housing voucher (EHV) program, launched in response to rising homelessness during the pandemic, now faces a severe funding shortfall that could bring it to an end years ahead of schedule.
Originally intended to run through 2030, the program may only remain operational until 2026, according to projections by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The Washington Post reports mounting concern over the future of housing security for thousands of vulnerable individuals.
Created to Address Pandemic-Era Housing Vulnerability
Launched in 2021, the emergency housing vouchers program was part of the American Rescue Plan Act, which allocated $5 billion to rapidly house people experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, or human trafficking at the height of the COVID-19 crisis.
The EHV initiative functioned as a reinforced version of the Section 8 housing program, with looser documentation requirements and broader eligibility, ensuring quicker shelter for the most vulnerable populations.
Unlike traditional housing vouchers, EHV allowed higher rent caps, offered financial incentives to landlords, and minimized red tape for applicants — features praised for helping thousands find housing swiftly.
Funding Cut Short by Rising Costs
In a statement, a HUD spokesperson linked the program’s early demise to recent economic pressures:
Due to rapidly increasing inflation and housing costs during the Biden administration, HUD estimates that funding for [emergency housing vouchers] will only cover such costs through 2026,” the spokesperson wrote in an email.
The agency added that it would explore “additional options” for families supported by the program.
The cost of rent has increased approximately 19% between 2019 and 2024, with the steepest rises occurring during 2021–2022, coinciding with the program’s implementation. These market shifts have significantly shortened the EHV program’s lifespan, originally designed to provide support through 2030.
Warning Signs From Local Authorities
Across the country, housing agencies are bracing for the end. California, which received the largest allocation with over 15,000 vouchers, is especially vulnerable.
In San Diego, Lisa Jones, president of the San Diego Housing Commission, said her agency can maintain services for about 460 families only through early summer 2026.
There’s a devastating impact to the families – she said.
To think that a year is going to give them enough time to prepare — in some of the highest rental markets in the country — is utterly unrealistic.
In Los Angeles, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles expects to fund its nearly 3,100 voucher households until December 2026, according to President Lourdes Castro Ramirez.
With over 24,000 people already on waiting lists for other housing assistance, she emphasized the stark gap between demand and available alternatives:
We have very scarce resources.
A Cycle Housing Advocates Know Too Well
For housing policy experts, the issue reflects deeper systemic problems. Kim Johnson, senior director of policy at the National Low Income Housing Coalition, said the program’s premature ending underscores a repeating pattern:
Our assistance ran out because rent is too expensive, so now you have to figure out how to pay for your expensive rent on your own, even though you couldn’t afford it.
She described the situation as an awful cycle.
The consequences go beyond eviction. Studies and reports linked the program to increased food security, reduced psychological distress, and decreased domestic violence, showing how stable housing ripples across multiple dimensions of well-being.
Uncertainty at the Federal Level
Housing authorities are still waiting for updated guidance from HUD on how to manage the transition and whether any stopgap support will be provided. At the same time, advocates are urging Congress to approve new funding to maintain the program.
But the prospects are dim, given the Republican-controlled House of Representatives and recent budget proposals from former President Donald Trump, which aim to sharply cut funding for federal housing programs.
Experts also point to long-term institutional weakening. Cuts initiated under the Trump administration significantly reduced HUD’s capacity, a trend some blame for the fragility of efforts like EHV.
While it remains unclear whether the DOGE Service — which was involved in dismantling HUD programs — played a direct role in this specific funding issue, the broader federal retreat from housing investment is a recurring concern.
Real-Life Consequences: Brian White’s Story
Brian White, 57, knows firsthand what’s at stake. For years, he worked a string of jobs — construction in San Diego, landscaping in Malibu, dishwashing — but still couldn’t afford rent.
When his chronic obstructive pulmonary disease worsened, he became homeless, living in a tent encampment in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district.
During the pandemic, a local nonprofit connected him with an emergency housing voucher. That changed everything.
Now, he pays $400 of a $1,799 rent for a one-bedroom apartment in a quiet San Francisco neighborhood. Without the voucher, he would lose that housing.
I’m scared to death thinking about if I have to go back to the streets – he said.
I won’t last a month.
