If you rely on Section 8 or other HUD housing programs, the ongoing government shutdown may feel especially stressful. With so much uncertainty in the news, it’s important to understand how this shutdown might affect your rent, your housing status, and what steps you should take to stay protected.
We’ve reviewed the latest information from HUD, legal experts, and public housing authorities around the country to help you stay informed and prepared.
What’s Going On With HUD Right Now
HUD released its contingency plan on September 30. Since then, there have been a few updates, but the overall picture remains the same: many HUD operations are on hold, and about 71% of their staff have been furloughed. Others are working without pay. Fortunately, most online systems are still operational, and local Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) are open and available to help.
How the Shutdown Affects Housing Programs
Public housing has secured funding through the end of November, so residents in these units should not experience any disruptions for now.
Project-based Section 8 properties are generally covered through the end of the year or longer. Most have active contracts in place, and HUD has confirmed that it can continue processing renewals, which means no immediate interruptions are expected.
Farmworker housing programs such as Sections 515, 514, and 516 are mostly stable, but some contracts that expire during the shutdown can’t be renewed until funding resumes. This may impact a small number of tenants.
Rural Development housing vouchers could be affected if your lease ends during the shutdown—unless your property has use restrictions, which offer added protections. It’s important to review your lease and understand your specific situation.
Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) are funded through December. Initially, HUD said funding would only last through mid-November, but they later confirmed that agencies would receive funds to cover both November and December by the end of October. This should allow voucher payments to continue as normal.
Emergency housing vouchers are still available in some situations, especially for families facing termination or needing to move due to health, safety, or legal concerns.
What Tenants Should Do Now
Even though most HUD programs are currently funded, it’s absolutely essential that tenants protect their housing benefits by staying in compliance. Legal experts agree that your landlord cannot raise your rent or evict you because of the government shutdown. However, you are still responsible for paying your portion of the rent on time and in full.
If you’re struggling to make that payment, now is the time to explore rental assistance programs in your area. Staying current on rent is the most important step you can take to avoid issues with your landlord or housing provider during this shutdown.
And while most landlords follow the rules, some do not. If your landlord attempts to raise your rent, issue an eviction notice, or otherwise take advantage of the situation, seek legal help right away. You can find free legal resources at LSC.gov and LawHelp.org. If you’re emailing legal aid, try using the subject line “Government Shutdown” to help your message stand out.
When meeting with legal aid or speaking with an attorney, bring a copy of your lease and any communications from your landlord or management company.
What Happens If HUD Funding Runs Out?
While HUD is funded through December for most programs, there is always concern about what might happen if the shutdown drags on past that point. The truth is, we’ve never seen a situation quite like this before. The Memphis Housing Authority has advised tenants to continue paying their portion of the rent even if HUD funds run out, and we echo that advice.
Everyone hopes this situation resolves before it comes to that. But if not, continuing to meet your rental obligations will help protect your housing status until further guidance becomes available.
Relief Recap
Most HUD housing programs, including Section 8, are currently funded through the end of November or December, and no immediate disruptions are expected. To protect your housing, keep paying your portion of rent on time and stay in compliance with your program rules. If you run into trouble with a landlord or need legal help, don’t wait—reach out to legal aid services as soon as possible.
Thank you Nicole for being so supportive during this rough time. I am on all the programs that you have been talking about and it has brought peace to my mind. Thank you and God bless Priscilla
Thank you so much for your kind message, Priscilla. We’re truly glad the information has helped bring you some peace during such a difficult time. Your words mean a lot to all of us—thank you for being here.