Action Alert (January 2025)
Update on Federal Funding Freeze + What’s Next
The White House rescinded the federal funding freeze on January 29, 2025. Learn what this means for programs serving children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness, and how to ensure continued support for vital services.
What Happened:
- On January 29, 2025, the White House rescinded a directive that froze trillions of dollars in federal grants and loans. The directive is no longer in effect.
What This Means & Why It Matters:
- For now, students, children, youth, and families still have access to vital services that they need to survive and thrive, including food, child care, rental assistance, education, and shelter.
- Collective advocacy is effective, and powerful. The mass outcry over the real harm to people – including children, youth, and families – led to the rescinding of the order.
- Under the U.S. Constitution, federal law, and previous court decisions, the White House does not have the authority to withhold appropriated funds indefinitely. Only Congress may make federal appropriations.
What’s Next:
- The crisis is only temporarily averted. The White House warned that it will continue to seek ways to cut funding for federal programs that have already been approved by Congress, taking away vital support that people need.
- Congress is preparing a budget blueprint that would cut trillions of dollars, including health care, food assistance, and other programs serving children, youth, and families. With less revenue available due to tax breaks and other Administration priorities, the Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program, the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) programs, and many others, are at risk.
What You Can Do:
It is imperative to continue to educate your Members of Congress about the importance of maintaining federal funding to protect the health, education, and safety of children, youth, and families.
- Please send an individualized message to your Members of Congress. As constituents, you have unique power. No one else knows what you know about child and youth homelessness in your community. You can find data on homelessness in your community here.
- Please consider a virtual meeting with the staff of your US Representative and U.S. Senators. It is not lobbying to simply share local information with Congress. SHC can help schedule, prepare, and even facilitate the meeting if you wish. Please contact TJ Lucas, Senior Manager for Federal Policy, if you are interested.