INITIAL VICTORY, BUT THE FIGHT CONTINUES: FOLLOWING PRESSURE BY CONGRESSMAN RYAN, SENATOR SCHUMER, AND LOCAL PARTNERS, MAJORITY OF CRITICAL HOUSING FUNDING CUT BY TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN RESTORED

Initial Victory, But The Fight Continues: Following Pressure by Congressman Ryan, Senator Schumer, and Local Partners, Majority of Critical Housing Funding Cut by Trump Administration Has Been RESTORED

Last month, Congressman Ryan raised the alarm on harmful cuts at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that would put Hudson Valley families, including veterans, on the street

That announcement came after the Trump Admin said it would cut HUD staff by 84%

Congressman Ryan was joined by Senator Schumer in demanding the funding be restored, making it clear that the Hudson Valley community will not let Donald Trump put their neighbors out on the street

WASHINGTON, DC  –  Today, following pressure by Congressman Pat Ryan, Senator Schumer, Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino, Poughkeepsie Mayor Flowers, and the entire Hudson Valley community, Hudson River Housing officially had three out of five of its funding contracts restored, taking a critical first step towards saving dozens of families, kids, and veterans from homelessness. When Congressman Ryan learned about the cut, he immediately raised the alarm, calling on the entire Hudson Valley community to stand in support of the impacted families. He was joined by Senator Chuck Schumer in demanding that HUD Secretary Scott Turner immediately restore the funding and ensure that no Hudson Valley families would be left on the street. Congressman Ryan also highlighted Hudson River Housing CEO Christa Hines at his recent town hall, where she addressed the more than 800 community members assembled and thousands more watching online about their critical work. Ryan and Hines are cautioning that the fight continues – two crucial HUD contracts have not yet been restored, forcing Hudson River Housing to cover the entirety of those payments for April. 

“Three weeks ago, we called on everyone in our community to raise their voices and join the fight to stop cruel cuts that would have kicked families, kids, and veterans out of their homes. Our community answered the call, rallying in force across the Hudson Valley. This is another victory for the people over Musk, Trump, and DOGE,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “But we cannot rest: We have to keep up this momentum to ensure Hudson River Housing has all of its funding contracts restored, especially as staff cuts rage on and uncertainty remains high. Every day my office is hearing about more harms to members of our community – we must continue to fight with everything we’ve got. We’re united in the fight for Hudson Valley families, and against anyone who would do us harm.”

“When I got the letter, my first thought was that my life was over. Having my home and my son keeps me from relapsing, I really thought that this was going to be the end for me,” said Liz Albus of Poughkeepsie. “The people in power have to know that this uncertainty was just cruel. Not knowing if my son, who has autism, and I were going to be homeless almost killed me. Congressman Ryan’s team literally saved me and I am extremely grateful.”

“I am proud to have worked with Congressman Ryan to stop Trump and Musk from taking away funding for housing for our veterans, kids, and families,” said Senator Chuck Schumer. “Today we saw what happens when New Yorkers fight back against disastrous decisions that undermine essential services: Trump and Musk back off. You can’t cut first and ask questions later when it comes to housing families, seniors and vets. There is much more work to be done, but I am proud to see this critical housing funding restored. I will continue to fight to restore all of the funding that has been promised, and ensure kids, veterans, and other vulnerable New Yorkers have the support they need.”

“For the first time, we faced uncertainty about whether the HUD-funded contracts that sustain our housing programs would be renewed, due to silence, confusion, and proposed deep staffing cuts at HUD. And in our line of work, delays are no different than cuts, since we are funded on a yearly basis. Thanks to relentless advocacy and support from Congressman Ryan, Senator Schumer, and Senator Gillibrand, and our many other community partners, we finally received confirmation of a one-year extension for a large percentage of these critical HUD funds,” said Christa Hines, President and CEO of Hudson River Housing. “Our community has demonstrated incredible resilience in the face of this uncertainty, but we must remain vigilant. The uncertainty surrounding critical housing funds underscores the need for continued advocacy and proactive planning to safeguard our most vulnerable neighbors. Together, we must ensure that Dutchess County remains a place where everyone has a stable and secure home, regardless of the challenges ahead.”

“This is welcome news for our community and a major relief for those who rely on these critical housing programs. At a time when too many individuals and families are struggling to keep a roof over their heads, we need to be doing more – not less – to support affordable housing,” said Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino. “I was proud to join Congressman Ryan and so many others in our community in urging our federal leaders to reverse course, and I’m grateful to see this progress moving forward.”

“The loss of this funding would have been devastating not only for the City of Poughkeepsie, but for our entire community. Without it, we would have seen dozens of families, children, and veterans put on the street,” said City of Poughkeepsie Mayor Yvonne Flowers. “I want to thank Congressman Ryan and Senator Schumer for sticking up for our community, and making sure this critical grant money got back to Hudson River Housing so they can continue their great work for our city and country.” 

Dozens of tenants in Dutchess County received notice from Hudson River Housing that due to the Trump Administration’s staff cuts and funding uncertainty at HUD, they were set to lose their rental assistance on April 1. This includes veterans, at-risk homeless youth, and families who currently live in supportive housing or receive rental assistance payments. Without immediate clarity and action from HUD, households were told they’d face rent increases, loss of support services, and potential eviction.

Hudson River Housing runs emergency and transitional housing programs to keep individuals out of homelessness. These programs rely on funding from HUD’s Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD), which provides yearly grants to homeless services providers. 

The Hudson Valley is among dozens of communities across the country facing the harsh consequences of the Administration's actions. In Austin, Texas, the city is slated to lose more than $15 million in federal housing funds, impacting numerous homelessness and housing services citywide.

They also fear the fate of projects currently under construction, including 5,000 new units of permanent supportive housing. In Massachusetts’ Berkshire region, local shelter workers are sounding the alarm on how the HUD cuts have thrown the future of several critical housing programs into uncertainty. A housing leader in North Carolina, which was recently rocked by devastating weather events, called the cuts “catastrophic,” saying that housing non-profits are in an absolute scramble to figure out how, and if, they can support themselves without this federal funding.

Congressman Ryan introduced his “Affordability Agenda” as his first legislation of the new Congress. The plan elevates an all-hands-on-deck approach to tackling the affordability crisis head-on, and includes the Congressman’s comprehensive Bold Housing Agenda aimed specifically at bringing down the cost of housing and improving housing accessibility. The bills included in the agenda are: 

• The Working Families Housing Tax Credit Act incentivizes developers to build more equitable housing by authorizing below market rate loans and creating a new tax credit for developers building affordable housing utilizing union labor.
• The PRO Housing Act provides funding for municipalities to convert or rehab existing housing, commercial spaces, and industrial centers in addition to “from scratch” developments. There will also be an emphasis placed on building near transit centers, and the establishment of a pilot program for the General Services Administration (GSA) to transfer unused federal land for development; thus eliminating government waste and increasing housing options.
• The Deliver Housing Now Act cuts through the bureaucratic red tape to allow municipalities to use federal dollars according to local priorities. If passed it would allow municipalities to utilize federal dollars in whichever category of housing is most impactful to the people they serve.
• The Mortgage Rate Reduction Act simplifies the federal loan assumption process, so that more than 11.3 million houses financed at lower interest rates through VA, USDA, or FHA loans are available to home-buyers. 

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