Seattle Housing Authority
Seattle Housing Authority
A place to live, a place to grow

Potential federal impacts on Seattle Housing Authority

Updated July 17, 2025


Three things to know 

  1. SHA services will stay the same in 2025. The federal budget won’t affect SHA residents or services this year. SHA is already working on future budgets to protect tenants and voucher holders in 2026 and beyond.

  2. Federal funding for the Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program will stop by the end of next year. SHA is exploring options to absorb or gradually phase out this program to the extent possible, and will notify both tenants and landlords at least 12 months in advance about what to expect. 

  3. Help is available for immigration-related questions. While SHA cannot give legal advice, there are trusted organizations that can assist.


1. Federal budget changes and SHA impacts

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed on July 4, 2025, created new rules and funding levels for many federal programs. It includes cuts to housing, health care, education and other key social services.

Capital dome

Although we know federal cuts are coming, we won’t know the specific impact on SHA until fall. That’s when Congress decides how money will be distributed through the appropriations process. If everything stays on schedule, it will be September or October 2025 before states and local agencies know what to expect for their 2026 budget.

Residents and services will not be affected in 2025. However, SHA is planning ahead for possible changes in 2026. The agency is preparing flexible budget options to absorb the federal cuts in order to protect current residents, voucher program recipients and all our safe and stable housing services.

Earlier this year, SHA created an internal team to monitor and respond to federal changes—including around the budget. In order to protect residents and voucher recipients, SHA immediately slowed spending and started working to develop budget options that will help us adapt to the anticipated federal cuts in 2026 and beyond.

SHA is preparing future budgets that put people first. Even as Congress finalizes funding decisions, SHA is staying focused on its mission of providing affordable, safe and stable housing. The Board of Commissioners is expected to review and approve a 2026 budget in October 2025. But again, this will not affect current programs, and the goals for the 2026 budget will be to preserve services.

SHA will continue to monitor federal actions closely and will share updates when the information is reliable and useful for decision making.

2. Changes to the Emergency Housing Voucher Program

The Emergency Housing Voucher Program has been an essential tool for providing safe and affordable housing to Seattle residents. EHVs were part of the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act and were designed to assist individuals and families who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking.

Although the program was originally meant to run through 2030, the federal government has decided to end funding in 2026.

SHA will continue to make rental payments to voucher recipients through next year, and both recipients and landlords are being notified of the change. SHA has also committed to giving recipients and landlords at least 12 months’ notice.

In the meantime, SHA is working with local partners to find new solutions and support options.

If you are an EHV program recipient and need more information, email EHV@seattlehousing.org.

3. Resources are available for people with questions about immigration issues

Some residents may have concerns about immigration issues or possible enforcement by ICE or the police. SHA staff cannot provide legal advice, but other organizations can. View a list of organizations.  

  • OBBBA and public housing: Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
  • Medicare and Medicaid: Nonpartisan analysis from KFF (formerly Kaiser Family Foundation)
  • Washington Governor Bob Ferguson on OBBBA Medicaid cuts
  • Congressional contacts: Call 202.224.3121 or visit www.usa.gov/elected-officials. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Source URL: https://www.seattlehousing.org/potential-federal-impacts-seattle-housing-authority