El hotel cápsula más espectacular del momento está en Gorafe, Granada.

Trump's Proposed Cuts To Section 8 Rental Aid Could Aggravate Bay Area Homelessness

President Donald Trump's proposal to slash the federal budget includes unprecedented cuts to the nation's largest rental aid program, a move Bay Area housing advocates and officials warn could push thousands of the region's poorest residents to the brink of homelessness.

The budget plan released last week calls for a 44% reduction in spending on housing and homelessness programs. The biggest cuts target federal Section 8 housing vouchers, which help more than 80,000 low-income households across the Bay Area afford rent each month.

In addition to the $33.6 billion in total housing cuts, the proposal seeks to replace the current voucher system, which administration officials describe as "dysfunctional," with grants to states to create their own rental aid programs. The administration is also proposing a two-year cap on federally funded rental assistance for able-bodied adults.

Housing advocates say such an overhaul would be especially devastating for voucher holders in the Bay Area, where sky-high rents — now topping $2,900 for a typical two-bedroom apartment — put them at even greater risk of becoming homeless.

"It would be catastrophic," said Jennifer Loving, chief executive of Silicon Valley homelessness solutions nonprofit Destination: Home. "But not only that, it would be incalculably cruel."

Trump's "skinny" budget is only a suggestion, and it's possible the Republican-controlled Congress could pursue smaller cuts or no reductions at all. Some Republican lawmakers have already voiced concerns about the proposed budget, including its call to gut Medicaid.

Still, local housing officials are preparing for potentially substantial cuts.

"We're trying to figure out: How do we absorb that hit, and how are we going to protect as many families as possible," said Preston Prince, executive director of the Santa Clara County Housing Authority, which administers the vouchers locally.

Prince said the housing authority has already begun forecasting various budget cut scenarios to identify options to ensure renters don't lose assistance. That includes a pause on issuing new vouchers and scaling back how much the agency spends to finance affordable housing projects.

However, if Congress adopts Trump's full housing cuts, the agency could be forced to terminate thousands of vouchers, leaving tenants and landlords without a crucial subsidy that buoys a wide segment of the local housing market.

The Trump administration has encouraged state governments to come up with their own funding sources to make up for the proposed cuts. Last year, California's budget for Section 8 vouchers reached nearly $6 billion, according to federal data.

The administration contends ending Section 8 and shifting responsibility for rental aid to states would eliminate burdensome federal regulations and empower state officials to develop programs based on "their unique needs and preferences."

Low-income voucher recipients currently pay 30% of their earnings on rent, while the government covers the rest. Tenants can use subsidies to pay for units they find on the private rental market. Vouchers are also sometimes tied to specific affordable and supportive housing developments.

About 2.3 million households nationwide use Section 8, but the demand still far outstrips the number of vouchers available.

Steven Greenhut, director of the Free Cities Center at the Pacific Research Center, a conservative think tank in Pasadena, said it makes sense to put states in charge of rent programs and expects California lawmakers would be quick to cover any funding shortfall.

He contends, however, that the best way to protect renters is to loosen homebuilding regulations to boost the housing supply and bring down prices. In the administration's budget proposal, officials pointed to plans to open federal land for construction as a way to spur more affordable housing.

"California continually focuses on public funding, and we need to focus on letting the market do its job," Greenhut said.

The state housing department did not respond to questions about the budget proposal.

While housing advocates agree that more new construction is needed, they say the administration's proposal, in particular its two-year cap on rental aid, suggests a fundamental misunderstanding of why many families are willing to endure often years-long waitlists to obtain a voucher.

Administration officials say the two-year limit is to ensure rental aid helps people healthy enough to work get back on their feet, so that most of the money can go to seniors and people with disabilities. But advocates note that in expensive places like the Bay Area, where about half of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, having a job hardly guarantees being able to afford market-rate rents.

"A lot of people who use vouchers are employed, they're working," said Lindsay Haddix, executive director of the nonprofit East Bay Housing Organizations. "We know that wages, particularly in the East Bay and the Bay Area, have not kept up with the rising cost of housing."

Trump's proposal also outlines $532 million in cuts to programs that fund local homelessness efforts, including various kinds of rental assistance for formerly homeless people. Earlier this week, Santa Clara County and San Francisco sued the administration to block new restrictions on how local governments can spend federal homelessness dollars.

The Bay Area has an estimated homeless population of 38,891, increasing 46% over the past decade.

Congress and the president must approve the budget by Sept. 30, though they could adopt a stopgap bill that would fund the government on a temporary basis.

Even if lawmakers ultimately elect not to make any cuts to housing programs, vulnerable tenants across the country could still lose their vouchers. That's because a $5 billion pandemic-era program that funds "emergency" vouchers for people at risk of homelessness is set to run out of money at the end of next year. Congress has shown no indication it plans to set aside more funding.

In the Bay Area, about 3,500 emergency vouchers are set to expire. Kocal officials, many of whom are now facing budget deficits, have limited options to replace that aid, said Prince, the county housing authority director.

"I know that hope is not a strategy," he said. "But I just hope Congress gets some empathy and some compassion and realizes that evicting these families is not the path forward."

Originally Published: May 8, 2025 at 3:18 PM PDT

Section 8 Waitlist 2025: How To Check Your Status And Apply Faster

Millions of low-income families are waiting for housing assistance through the Section 8 voucher program in 2025. With long waitlists and limited openings, it's crucial to know where you stand and how to move through the process faster.

Here's what to know this May.

How to check your Section 8 waitlist status

If you've already applied for a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher, you can check your status online or by phone. Most Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) allow applicants to:

Log into a local housing authority portal: Search "[Your City] PHA Section 8 status" to find your agency's login page.

Call your PHA directly: Use the HUD directory to find local contact information.

When checking, have your application ID or Social Security number ready. Be prepared for long wait times during peak periods.

How long is the wait in 2025?

Wait times vary widely by location:

Urban areas: Waitlists can range from 2 to 10+ years

Suburban/rural areas: Waitlists may be shorter — some reopen within 6–18 months

Some PHAs are still closed to new applications in 2025. Others reopen for short windows lasting just a few days.

How to apply for Section 8 faster

While you can't skip the line, there are steps to maximize your chances:

Apply to multiple PHAs: You can apply to any housing authority in the U.S., not just where you live.

Monitor open waitlists: Use AffordableHousingOnline.Com or HUD's PHA list to track waitlist openings in real time.

Respond quickly to PHA requests: Missed calls, emails, or letters can lead to removal from the list.

Check for local preferences: Some PHAs prioritize applicants who are homeless, veterans, older people, or displaced by disaster.

What documents do you need to apply?

When applying or updating your file, make sure to have:

Photo ID (for all adults in the household)

Social Security cards

Proof of income (pay stubs, benefit letters)

Current lease or eviction notice (if applicable)

Birth certificates for dependents

Keep digital copies of these documents for fast upload if the PHA offers online access.

What if your waitlist is closed?

If your local list is closed:

Sign up for notifications through your housing authority or third-party tracking websites.

Explore other HUD programs, such as public housing, Project-Based Vouchers, or state-level rental assistance.

You can also call HUD's Housing Counseling Line at 1-800-569-4287 for free guidance.

What happens next?

As more PHAs reopen lists in summer 2025, expect short application windows and high competition. Stay alert, respond quickly, and follow up on your status regularly.

We'll continue tracking new openings and policy changes in the Housing Choice Voucher program. Subscribe and follow below for the latest.

Get the latest headlines delivered to your inbox each morning. Sign up for our Morning Edition to start your day. FL1 on the Go! Download the free FingerLakes1.Com App for iOS (iPhone, iPad).

This content is brought to you by the FingerLakes1.Com Team. Support our mission by visiting www.Patreon.Com/fl1 or learn how you send us your local content here.

Section 8 Overhaul: Proposed Bill Aims To Expand Housing Vouchers

In a bold move to address the nation's housing affordability crisis, U.S. Representative Yassamin Ansari (D-Phoenix) has introduced sweeping legislation to reform the federal Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, better known as Section 8.

The bill proposes transforming Section 8 into a universal housing entitlement. If passed, it would ensure that every eligible low-income household receives rental assistance—a major shift from the current system, where only about 25% of qualifying households receive help due to funding shortages.

Key provisions of the Section 8 reform bill

The legislation outlines several major changes:

Expansion of voucher availability: The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) would be required to increase the number of vouchers issued annually, with a goal of making housing support universally available within a decade.

Broadened eligibility: Income thresholds and other criteria would be updated to make more families eligible for assistance.

Lower rent contributions: Families would pay a smaller percentage of their income toward rent, easing financial strain.

Protection against voucher discrimination: Landlords would be prohibited from rejecting tenants based solely on their use of a housing voucher.

Challenges facing Section 8 recipients today Since its creation in the 1970s, the Housing Choice Voucher program has remained largely unchanged. Long waiting lists, insufficient funding, and widespread voucher discrimination have made it difficult for many families to secure stable housing. Currently, qualifying households often wait years for assistance, and many are forced to move multiple times or endure unsafe living conditions while they wait. What this bill could mean for low-income families If enacted, the reform would dramatically expand access to affordable housing across the United States. By making vouchers an entitlement rather than a limited resource, millions more Americans—including families with children, older people, and people with disabilities—could find stable housing. Lower rent contribution rates would also mean more disposable income for essentials like food, healthcare, and education. Political hurdles ahead Despite its ambitious goals, the legislation faces a tough road in a divided Congress. Republicans have generally resisted expansions of federal aid programs, citing concerns about cost and government overreach. Still, housing advocates say the bill is sparking crucial conversations about how to address America's deepening affordable housing crisis. "Expanding access to housing is not just an economic issue—it's a moral imperative," Ansari said during a recent press conference. Section 8 Waitlist Openings May 2025: Where Applications Are Open Now Background you should know Demand for housing aid is surging: Rising rents and inflation have pushed housing costs out of reach for millions. State and local governments are experimenting with new programs: Cities like Los Angeles and Denver are piloting guaranteed rent assistance initiatives. HUD recently updated income limits: Making it easier for slightly higher-earning households to qualify for help. For families already struggling with long waitlists and rent increases, this proposed reform could be life-changing if it moves forward. Get the latest headlines delivered to your inbox each morning. Sign up for our Morning Edition to start your day. FL1 on the Go! Download the free FingerLakes1.Com App for iOS (iPhone, iPad). This content is brought to you by the FingerLakes1.Com Team. Support our mission by visiting www.Patreon.Com/fl1 or learn how you send us your local content here.

---