60,000 Americans at Risk as Emergency Housing Vouchers Face Collapse

In 2021, a lifeline was extended to some of America’s most vulnerable—approximately 60,000 families and individuals fleeing homelessness, domestic violence, or human trafficking. The Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV) program, launched under the American Rescue Plan Act with a $5 billion allocation, was designed to provide stable housing for those in desperate need, with the promise of support through 2030. But skyrocketing rents have drained the funds faster than anticipated, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) now warns that the program will run dry by the end of 2025. Without Congressional intervention, tens of thousands face the specter of eviction, potentially unraveling years of progress in rebuilding lives.

The Emergency Housing Vouchers: A Fragile Safety Net

The EHV program was a bold response to a confluence of crises—pandemic-driven economic instability, rising homelessness, and the persistent scourge of domestic violence and human trafficking. Unlike traditional housing vouchers, EHVs were tailored for those in acute distress: survivors of abuse, families teetering on the edge of shelters, and individuals escaping exploitation. The program covered rent for participants across cities like San Francisco, Dallas, and Tallahassee, serving a diverse group that includes children, seniors, and veterans. For many, it offered more than shelter—it restored dignity, safety, and the chance to rebuild.

A director of a New York City nonprofit focused on housing stability noted that domestic violence is a leading cause of family homelessness in urban centers. Their organization alone connected 700 survivors to EHVs, helping them secure apartments and escape cycles of abuse. “The vouchers didn’t just provide walls; they gave people a foundation to reclaim their identity,” they said. Data from HUD underscores the program’s reach: as of 2023, over 59,000 households were enrolled, with an average monthly rent subsidy of $1,200. But therein lies the problem—rental costs have surged far beyond projections.

The National Low Income Housing Coalition reports that between 2019 and 2022, the U.S. lost 480,000 affordable rental units, exacerbating a shortage of 6.3 million homes for low-income renters. Median rents rose 16% from 2020 to 2023, outpacing wage growth and stretching the EHV budget thin. HUD’s recent letter to program administrators was blunt: “Manage your EHV program with the expectation that no additional funding will be forthcoming.” The $5 billion, meant to last a decade, will be exhausted in half that time.

What’s at Stake

The potential collapse of the EHV program threatens to push 60,000 households back into instability.

This isn’t just about losing a subsidy—it’s about dismantling lives that were painstakingly rebuilt.

For survivors of domestic violence, eviction could mean returning to abusers or unsafe shelters. For those who escaped homelessness, it could mean the streets. A 2024 report found that evictions increase homelessness rates by up to 20% in urban areas, with ripple effects on health, employment, and child welfare.

The data is grim. A 2023 HUD study estimated that 40% of EHV recipients were families with children, and 15% were seniors. Losing housing could disrupt schooling, exacerbate chronic illnesses, and deepen poverty.

Hastening the program’s end will elevate homelessness rates and worsen the housing crisis.

The fear is palpable among recipients, many of whom are saving what little they can in anticipation of the worst.

Will Funding Be Restored?

The program’s fate hinges on Congress, which must decide whether to allocate additional funds as part of the federal budget. Some lawmakers are pushing for an $8 billion extension to sustain the program through 2030. However, the political landscape is fraught. Republicans, who control Congress in 2025, prioritize federal spending cuts to offset tax reductions, making new funding a tough sell.

The EHV program, while well-intentioned, was never designed to be permanent. Congress must weigh its cost against other priorities like infrastructure and defense.

On the other side, housing advocates and progressive lawmakers contend that the human and economic costs of inaction far outweigh the price tag. A 2022 Urban Institute study found that every dollar spent on housing vouchers saves $2.50 in costs related to homelessness, healthcare, and incarceration.

Investing in EHVs is fiscally responsible, because evictions and homelessness are exponentially more expensive.

Yet, with budget negotiations looming, the program’s future remains uncertain.

It’s a question of political will. If Congress sees this as a niche issue, it’ll fall through the cracks.

A Nation Grappling with Housing

The EHV crisis is a microcosm of America’s broader housing woes. Homelessness spiked nearly 40% from 2022 to 2024, driven by rent hikes, an influx of asylum seekers, and the expiration of pandemic-era eviction bans. The Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes, aimed at curbing inflation, have made new housing construction costlier, reducing the supply of affordable units. A 2025 report highlighted that multifamily housing production peaked in 2022, but low-income units were lost faster than they were built, as federal tax credits expired and aging housing stock deteriorated.

Local governments are struggling to fill the gap. Some states, like New Jersey, have used fair share housing mandates and state funding to boost affordable units, but most rely on federal subsidies. A housing researcher at a California university warns, “Without federal intervention, states and cities will be overwhelmed. Sales taxes or bond-funded housing can’t scale fast enough.” Meanwhile, anti-homeless policies are gaining traction, with some jurisdictions criminalizing unsheltered living—a trend critics fear will intensify, given past rhetoric about displacing unhoused people to “tent cities.”

Are Other Countries Watching?

The EHV crisis is uniquely American in its scale, but housing instability is a global issue. In Canada, the Rapid Housing Initiative, launched in 2020, provides subsidies for vulnerable populations but faces similar funding constraints, with a 2024 report warning of a $2 billion shortfall by 2026. The United Kingdom’s Housing First program, which prioritizes permanent housing for the homeless, has been praised but struggles with local budget cuts, serving only 15,000 people annually. In contrast, Finland’s comprehensive Housing First model, fully funded by the national government, has reduced homelessness by 50% since 2008, offering a potential blueprint.

Could the U.S. crisis spur international action? A global housing expert at the United Nations Habitat program doubts it. “Most countries are grappling with their own housing shortages,” they said. “The U.S. situation might raise awareness, but don’t expect a domino effect.” However, advocacy groups are leveraging the crisis to push for global standards on housing as a human right, citing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. A 2024 UN report urged nations to prioritize subsidies for at-risk populations, but adoption remains uneven.

What lies ahead for the 60,000 EHV recipients and the broader housing landscape? Several scenarios are possible:

1. Congress Approves Full Funding: An $8 billion extension could sustain the program through 2030, stabilizing recipients and allowing time to transition to other voucher programs like Section 8. This would require bipartisan support and advocacy from housing coalitions, which are mobilizing through campaigns like #SaveEHV

2. Partial Funding or Temporary Extension: A compromise might see $2–3 billion allocated, extending the program for 1–2 years. This would delay but not prevent the crisis, forcing recipients to seek alternative aid amidst long waitlists for public housing.

3. No Funding, Mass Evictions: If Congress fails to act, evictions could begin in early 2026, overwhelming shelters and increasing homelessness by an estimated 10–15%, per HUD projections. This would strain local economies and social services, with urban areas hit hardest.

4. State and Local Interventions: Some states might step in with emergency funds or rental assistance, but their capacity is limited. California’s $500 million Homeless Housing Assistance Program, for instance, serves only 10,000 people annually.

Long-term solutions require systemic change. Experts advocate for expanding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, streamlining zoning to allow denser housing, and increasing federal housing budgets. A radical proposal gaining traction is a federal guaranteed income for rent, modeled on universal basic income trials, which could stabilize low-income households without bureaucratic overhead.

The EHV program’s collapse could reshape communities, deepen inequality, and test America’s commitment to its most vulnerable.

With political will, innovative policies, and public pressure, the U.S. could avert this crisis and build a more resilient housing system. Without it, 60,000 stories of survival may end in displacement, reminding us that safety, for too many, remains a privilege, not a right.

-Chetan Desai