Howard County’s housing crisis is staring us down—a shortage of about 9,000 units and rent climbing faster than folks can earn. Now, federal aid that anchors the support system is under direct threat. President Trump’s fiscal 2026 budget proposes a near‑44% cut to HUD funding, including devastating reductions to Section 8, homelessness assistance, Native housing, public housing, and fair housing.
On the ground, Howard County depends on those programs. Housing vouchers, emergency housing grants, and community development funding offer lifelines to residents at risk. With federal dollars disappearing, county officials warn the most vulnerable will be squeezed hardest.
But rescuing people is still the plan. County Executive Calvin Ball recently rolled out a bold five-year strategy, aiming for “functional zero”—a system where no one waits for housing help once they’re flagged in the Coordinated Entry. His goal: cut waitlists, shore up shelter space and reduce homelessness county-wide.
With the Trump administration pushing states to manage the fallout via block grants, shifting both risk and responsibility, local leadership is facing a historic crossroads. Conservatives say the cuts trim federal bloat, but housing advocates argue the changes invert equity: housing stability becomes a patchwork, not a right. In Howard County, where home is more than an address—it’s community—the stakes are clear: protect funding, or lose ground fast.
