US federal homelessness policy shift

The U.S. administration is transitioning federal homelessness strategy from a ‘Housing First’ approach to a ‘Treatment First’ model. This shift prioritizes addiction recovery, sober living, and law enforcement cooperation as primary conditions for support.

To facilitate this transition, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has allocated $42.3 million in supplemental funding to states and territories. Managed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), these funds are intended to expand licensed recovery housing and build workforce capacity. Concurrently, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is proposing changes to the Continuum of Care program to incentivize transitional housing focused on behavioral healthcare and employment.

This policy shift is causing significant upheaval for service providers nationwide. Organizations relying on federal subsidies are adjusting to new requirements that favor short-term transitional housing, leading advocates to warn that such changes may reduce access to permanent, government-subsidized apartments.

In Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) announced it will cease managing approximately $240 million in annual federal homelessness funding following scrutiny from the Trump administration regarding accountability and alleged theft of taxpayer funds. U.S. District Judge David O. Carter is tasked with selecting a successor to manage these funds before they are awarded in December. Los Angeles County has applied for the role through its new homelessness department, promising increased transparency, while the City of Los Angeles has expressed interest in assuming some of LAHSA’s duties. Judge Carter noted that any transition must be gradual to prevent the displacement of individuals currently receiving services.