Fair Housing is Under Attack: Demand Congress Fully Fund Critical Fair Housing Programs

 

The House Appropriations THUD Subcommittee (Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies) held its markup on May 21, 2026, and the full House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to mark up the THUD bill next Wednesday, June 3 at 11:00am EST.  

 

Now is not the time to cut critical funding for fair housing programs. In 2024, 32,321 fair housing complaints were received by private, non-profit fair housing organizations, FHAP agencies, HUD, and DOJ. FHIP funded organizations processed over 74 percent of all complaints, and FHAP agencies processed roughly 21 percent of all complaints.  

 

On May 20, 2026, The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations released its FY 2027 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) spending bill, which provides annual funding for the vital HUD programs and services. The proposal would fund HUD at $71.38 billion, a $5.94 billion, or over 8 percent, cut from the $77.3 billion provided for HUD programs in FY26. The bill significantly reduces funding for HUD's critical Fair Housing Programs: 

 

The bill also proposes rescinding $55 million from under the heading "Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity" from unobligated balances, which are likely FY25 and FY26 funding amounts since all the FY24 funds have already been obligated. 

 

These proposed cuts to HUD's vital Fair Housing Programs would devastate community-based fair housing organizations supporting disabled veterans and other people with disabilities, families with children, seniors, Black, Latino, Asian, and Native communities, women, LGBTQ+ people, and more with securing housing free of discrimination in the middle of the nation's fair and affordable housing crisis. 

 

As the nation is in the throes of a fair and affordable housing crisis, persistent housing discrimination, and increased homelessness, Congress must act to provide the highest possible amount for HUD appropriations and fully fund our nation's fair housing programs for FY27. 

 

The House Appropriations Committee's bill falls short of what is needed to effectively support local communities in their efforts to ensure equitable housing opportunities and help victims of housing discrimination to be made whole. As a result, disabled veterans and seniors requiring accessible housing opportunities, families with children looking to rent an apartment free of discrimination, women seeking to live without sexual abuse from landlords, and people seeking to buy a home free of racial harassment will all be adversely impacted.