The Community Action Association of Alabama is calling on advocates, partners, and community members across the state to take action now. The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) has released its Fiscal Year 2026 Toolkit: “Opposing Cuts to Federal Investments in Affordable Housing,” and it’s an essential resource for all of us working to ensure safe, stable housing for every Alabamian.
Across Alabama, families depend on programs funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to meet basic housing needs and avoid homelessness. Yet decades of underfunding mean that only 1 in 4 households eligible for federal rental assistance actually receives it. That leaves thousands of Alabama renters on the brink—with nowhere to turn.
On May 2, the Trump Administration released a partial FY26 budget proposal that would cut HUD funding by 44%—a historic reduction. These cuts include a 43% decrease in rental assistance and the restructuring or elimination of several core programs like the Homelessness Assistance Grants (HAG). If enacted, these cuts would harm thousands of Alabama families and communities who rely on these lifelines.
Congress will soon decide the final budget. Now is the time to act.
NLIHC’s toolkit offers detailed guidance for contacting lawmakers, along with data, strategies, and talking points to help you advocate effectively for:
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Full renewal of all existing Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) and 60,000 Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHVs)
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Increased funding for public housing operations and capital repairs
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$4.922 billion for HUD’s Homeless Assistance Grants (HAG)
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$20 million for the Eviction Protection Grant Program (EPGP)
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$1.3 billion for Tribal housing programs and $150 million in competitive funding for high-need areas
The toolkit also includes a special “Reject Housing Cuts and EHV Funding Cliff: Action Toolkit,” developed in partnership with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, National Alliance to End Homelessness, and National Housing Law Project.
Join more than 2,300 national, state, and local organizations who have signed a national letter to Congress demanding the highest possible funding for housing and homelessness programs in FY26.
Download the toolkit and take action today: https://nlihc.org
Together, we can make sure Alabama’s most vulnerable communities are heard—and protected.