Key facts
- A federal judge has struck down a policy shift by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) away from the "housing first" approach to homelessness.
- HUD had announced plans to prioritize temporary housing and services over permanent housing.
- The agency argued that the "housing first" policy has failed and that its new approach aims for recovery and self-sufficiency.
- The judge ruled that HUD's actions to eliminate the housing first approach were "unreasoned decision making."
- HUD intends to award $4.04 billion in funding for its Continuum of Care Program in 2026 based on merit and outcomes.
A federal judge has blocked the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) recent shift away from its long-standing "housing first" policy for addressing homelessness. The "housing first" approach prioritizes providing permanent housing to individuals experiencing homelessness.
In response to the ruling, a HUD spokesperson stated that the agency "fully stands by our objective to overhaul America’s failed homelessness system," which they claim has been an "exorbitant taxpayer cost" without addressing root causes. The spokesperson added, "The data is clear: Housing First has failed. HUD is making a paradigm shift towards recovery and self-sufficiency."