Rhode Island judge halts effort by HUD to change criteria for homeless funding

Source: Associated Press

A Rhode Island judge on Friday temporarily stopped the Trump administration from changing the criteria for using tens of millions of dollars in funding to aid homeless people.

Several nonprofits filed a lawsuit this week accusing the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development of changing the rules for receiving $75 million in funding to build housing for homeless families and individuals. Plaintiffs accused the Trump administration of changing the criteria for the Continuum of Care Builds program to better align with its social policies.

U.S District Judge Mary McElroy granted a temporary restraining order from the bench while the lawsuit plays out.

“The court’s decision provides significant relief for communities in vulnerable circumstances and for the principle that federal housing funds exist to serve people in need, not to advance partisan goals,” Democracy Forward President & CEO Skye Perryman said in a statement. “The administration cannot unlawfully weaponize essential housing resources.”

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By MICHAEL CASEY
Updated 7:27 PM EDT, September 12, 2025


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/hud-homelessness-funding-lawsuit-1aa943b13b0197adf8b4ce9374c8ea47