Trump tries to put an end to permanent supporting homes for the chronic homeless

While President Trump’s budget proposal is looking for considerable cuts in spending on homelessness programs, the greater impact would arise from changes in how the money is spent.

Of Homelessness at record levelsThe plan would increase money for emergency shelter, but end aid for permanent supporting homes, the focus of a decades of movement to serve the most vulnerable society.

More than 300,000 People live in such homes, all chronic homeless and disabled. Many are veterans. Critics warn that the change would not only prevent the expansion of the permanent housing stock, but also expansions of those who are currently helping it depend on the deep subsidies that eliminate the budget.

“This is contrary to the indicated goal of reducing homelessness on the street because it brings people back to the street,” said Barbara Poppe, a consultant of local authorities who worked on homelessness issues in the Obama government.

Trump’s proposal would abolish two programs that finance long-term houses Continuum from the care program And Housing options for people with AIDS – and moves them to the Emergency Solutions Grant Program. This program finances short -term care and homes to two years.

The proposed reduction of $ 532 million is a reduction of approximately 12 percent in combined expenses. But none of the remaining money can be spent on long -term homes that supporters see as the most important safety net.

Permanent supporting homes arose three decades ago as a solution for chronic homelessness, initially with two -part support. Under a philosophy that is first called homes, it offers deeply subsidized homes and does not offer customers to accept – services for addiction or mental disorders.

Proponents say that it saves lives by getting chronic homeless from the street, where they die with high rates. But in recent years, Some conservatives have allowed the approach And said it does not tackle the underlying problems that many homeless people have to do with. Some blame for recent peaks in the unhuised population.

Many people come to permanent supporting homes after a decade or more on the street. By limiting their housing aid to two years, the Trump plan does not address the question of what should happen next.