‘Intentional Chaos’: Judge Chastises HUD in Dispute Over Homelessness Programs

The Department of Housing and Urban Development temporarily rescinded its earlier blueprint for how to qualify for funding for homeless programs.

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Aaron M. Sprecher/AP

A federal judge on Monday chastised the Trump administration for withdrawing a blueprint outlining how programs aimed at helping homeless people qualify for federal funding an hour before the court hearing that was set to review its legality.

The Notice of Funding Opportunity has been the subject of concern among housing advocates — including the National Alliance to End Homelessness, one of the plaintiffs that sued to stop the notice — who argued against cutting the funding that keeps thousands of Americans off the street.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s announcement of the withdrawal said it still intended to make “revisions” to the NOFO, but seemed even to catch its attorney — who couldn’t answer who had made the decision to withdraw it — off guard.