MADISON, WI –– Today, Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez, Chair of the Wisconsin Interagency Council on Homelessness, sharply criticized newly announced changes at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that roll back federal support for Housing First, a model widely regarded as the most effective, evidence-based strategy for reducing homelessness.
Under the revised HUD framework, federal funding will shift away from Housing First requirements and instead encourage approaches that prioritize greater restrictions on who can access shelter or permanent housing programs. The policy changes are expected to significantly disrupt state and local homelessness response systems—especially in communities already facing rising housing costs, workforce shortages, and limited shelter capacity.
“The evidence is clear: Housing First saves lives, saves money, and stabilizes communities,” said Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez. “Weakening federal commitments to this model will put thousands of Wisconsinites at risk. In January, 2,223 households are immediately put in jeopardy of losing their housing and becoming homeless again. These changes ignore decades of research proving that people cannot address mental health, substance use, or employment needs without first having a safe, stable place to live.”
“As Chair of the Interagency Council on Homelessness, I have seen firsthand the success stories across our state,” she said. “From rural towns to urban areas, Housing First has reduced chronic homelessness, eased strain on emergency rooms and law enforcement, and helped families rebuild stability. Rolling back this policy is not just misguided—it is dangerous.”
The Lieutenant Governor also urged federal officials to reinstate evidence-based standards rather than pursue punitive or exclusionary approaches. “Homelessness is not a moral failing—it requires public policy solutions,” she said. “We need federal partners who support data-driven solutions, not politically motivated shifts that leave communities scrambling and vulnerable people out in the cold.”
