As the leader for Clark County’s homeless response system, we gathered and analyzed data related to housing and homelessness funding and how our community will be impacted by the proposed federal funding cuts. Please read our press release below.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Potential Cuts to Housing and Homeless Services Will Devastate Clark County
Thousands Could Lose Critical Support Through the Homeless Response System
VANCOUVER, WA (May 1, 2025) — In the coming days, the federal government is expected to release a budget proposal that includes significant cuts to many of the programs and services foundational to housing and homeless services across Clark County. In the face of these unprecedented federal funding cuts, Council for the Homeless has calculated the types and scale of services that could be lost with the reduction or elimination of federal funding for housing and homeless services in Clark County.
The cuts would have a devastating impact on community members with low to very low incomes and remove over $50 million from the local economy.
To illustrate the impact, Council for the Homeless analyzed the services provided, the number of people or households assisted, and the dollar value of the services during fiscal year 2023-24. Funding sources include:
- Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), a federal “pass through” program distributed by the City of Vancouver and Clark County through competitive grants.
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) competitive grants.
“It is important that taxpayers and policymakers are aware of how funds are allocated locally and the deep impact our community will experience if funding is eliminated,” said Sesany Fennie-Jones, chief executive officer of Council for the Homeless.
An example of federal funding at work in Clark County includes $48 million for rent assistance for 3,548 low-income households. This includes short-term assistance and ongoing Section 8 rental vouchers. In many cases, this assistance makes the difference between remaining housed or falling into homelessness. These funds are paid directly to landlords and property management companies, contributing to the local economy.
“We also know that if other safety net services are cut, the people receiving those services will become even more vulnerable and more likely to fall into homelessness,” Fennie-Jones continued. These services include early childhood education, Medicaid, emergency services such as fire response, and education and services for low-income students and their families.
Council for the Homeless encourages community members to advocate with their elected officials and policymakers to oppose cuts to housing and homelessness services in Clark County.
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About Council for the Homeless: Council for the Homeless (CFTH) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness in Clark County, WA, by providing community leadership, compelling advocacy, and practical solutions to solve homelessness on an individual and community level. Founded in 1989, CFTH serves as the lead agency and coordinated entry for delivery of homeless services through the Continuum of Care for Homeless Services in Clark County, WA.
