Government shutdown could lead to millions of evictions

https://www.curbed.com/2019/1/7/18172058/government-shutdown-hud-programs-trump-2019

Government shutdown could lead to millions of evictions
Funding for HUD’s rental assistance programs would lapse if shutdown drags on
By Jeff Andrews Jan 7, 2019, 1:18pm EST


Entering its third week, and with no end in sight, the partial federal government shutdown is putting millions of low-income tenants who depend on funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) at risk.

On January 4, HUD sent a letter to 1,500 landlords who house tenants under various rental assistance programs, including Section 8 vouchers and project-based rental assistance, urging them not to initiate evictions for tenants over HUD funding that has now lapsed.

According the Washington Post, HUD officials didn’t realize this funding had lapsed on January 1, and the shutdown prevents them from renewing it. HUD officials are now tapping reserve funds and “scouring for money,” according to the Post.

About 95 percent of HUD’s 7,500 employees have been furloughed. The remaining 5 percent are exempt because they respond to emergency situations that endanger life or property.

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According to NBC, nonprofits and other agencies that rely on HUD were unprepared for the shutdown. Usually, government departments hold an emergency call with relevant stakeholders prior to a shutdown, but because of the sudden start to the current shutdown, these calls didn’t happen. It was also reported that Trump didn’t know a government shutdown could lead to evictions for those who depend on HUD’s rental assistance programs.

This has left many who depend on HUD in the dark on what will happen should the shutdown drag on, which seems more likely with each passing day. HUD has a shutdown contingency plan on its website, but it’s the same plan from the February 2018 shutdown, so it’s unclear if HUD has reevaluated or adjusted its plan.