Federal Homelessness Rules Clash with Oregon, Threatening Vital Housing Programs

The Trump-era overhaul of the federal Continuum of Care program is no mere bureaucratic adjustment — it is a direct threat to Oregon’s fragile homeless services network and a stark example of how Washington’s top-down regulations can clash disastrously with state priorities and community needs. Why Are Federal Rules Pitting Providers Against Each Other and Endangering Housing Stability? The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently mandated that homeless service providers participating in the $3.9 billion Continuum of Care program condition access to long-term housing on mandatory behavioral health treatments like addiction counseling or job training. This overturns...