The Trump administration is playing a dangerous game with federal funding that could leave thousands of California’s most vulnerable residents without a lifeline. In a move that screams “culture war politics,” HUD has slapped new restrictions on Continuum of Care grants that could potentially strip away critical housing support for homeless individuals.

The Funding Squeeze

California’s homeless service providers are now caught in an impossible bind. Accept vague and potentially discriminatory contract terms, or risk losing hundreds of millions in crucial funding. The restrictions read like a right-wing wishlist: no “gender ideology,” no support for undocumented immigrants, and absolutely no diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

Fighting Back

Santa Clara and San Francisco counties aren’t taking this lying down. They’ve joined a lawsuit challenging these unconstitutional conditions, arguing that the restrictions are not only vague but also an overreach of executive power. Other organizations are forced to make tough choices - scrub their email signatures of pronouns or potentially lose funding that keeps people housed.

The Real Human Cost

Behind these bureaucratic battles are real people. Erika Lee from Venice Community Housing points out the stark reality: these policies disproportionately harm Black communities, who are already more likely to experience homelessness. The message is clear: this administration would rather play political games than actually help vulnerable populations.