Proposed HUD Budget Cuts Could Jeopardize Millions of Affordable Homes, Report Warns

A dramatic 44% cut to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) budget, as proposed in President Trump’s FY2026 spending plan, could have sweeping consequences for renters, landlords, financial institutions, and the broader housing market, according to a new analysis from the New York Housing Conference (NYHC).

The administration’s proposed changes include a two-year time cap on federal rental assistance for non-disabled, non-elderly households and a shift toward converting key housing programs such as Section 8 and Public Housing into block grants managed at the state level. NYHC’s briefing warns this could destabilize the federal housing safety net, causing ripple effects throughout the financial system.

Millions at Risk of Losing Housing Support

HUD’s rental assistance programs serve millions of low-income households across the country, and also play a vital role in financing affordable housing. A sharp funding reduction, coupled with time limits on assistance, would jeopardize long-term affordability and threaten the viability of many low-income housing developments.

“Without consistent federal funding, landlords and developers will lose a major source of predictable revenue,” the report states. “This increases the risk of loan defaults, investor losses, and widespread financial instability.”

According to NYHC, between 2018 and 2023, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac collectively backed roughly $50 billion in loans tied to HUD-assisted housing, supporting more than 238,000 units across the nation. Defaults in this sector could burden the housing finance system with losses comparable to the fallout of the 2008 housing crisis.

New York Stands to Lose the Most

New York would be among the hardest-hit states under the proposed cuts. HUD funding in the Empire State could fall from $8.7 billion to $4.8 billion a 46% drop. More than one million residents, particularly in areas like Harlem, Brownsville, and the South Bronx, could be impacted.

Some neighborhoods rely heavily on Section 8 vouchers, with NYHC noting that just 3% of New York City’s census tracts account for nearly 30% of all vouchers. These high-density areas face elevated risks of eviction, vacancies, and financial distress if funding dries up.

NYC’s affordable housing ecosystem, backed by more than $10 billion in public-private financing, would be particularly vulnerable. This includes:

• $6.2 billion in city and public housing authority loans
• $3 billion in loans supported by government-sponsored entities (GSEs)
• Over $1 billion each from private lenders like JPMorgan Chase, Flagstar/NYCB, and CPC

“This analysis represents only the minimum risk,” NYHC emphasized, noting that many developments rely on layered financing not fully captured in the available data.

Broader Housing Market Could Feel the Shock

Beyond renters and property owners, the report highlights that banks, mortgage lenders, and the broader credit system could suffer from a surge in bad loans and a collapse in affordable housing development. A pullback in HUD funding would raise borrowing costs, halt new construction, and create uncertainty for municipal budgets already strained by rising housing needs.

While Congress has rejected the President’s budget in its current form, early drafts from the House Appropriations Committee still propose reductions in critical HUD initiatives, including the HOME program, housing vouchers, and support for public housing. The Senate Appropriations Committee is expected to review its own version of the bill this week.

NYHC plans to release a comparative analysis of the House and Senate proposals in the coming days. For direct financing consultations or mortgage options for you visit 👉 Nadlan Capital Group.