Rhode Island judge halts effort by HUD to change criteria for homeless funding
A federal judge halted HUD's policy change affecting $75 million in homeless aid, citing concerns over unlawful criteria shifts linked to political considerations.
- A Rhode Island federal judge blocked HUD on September 12 from enforcing new homeless housing grant criteria tied to political stances.
- The action followed HUD's September 5 adoption of criteria requiring applicants to reject certain local policies, which plaintiffs argued exceeded HUD's authority.
- A group of plaintiffs, including organizations advocating for the homeless, filed a lawsuit arguing that recent changes would prevent $75 million in funding from reaching service providers operating within sanctuary cities.
- Judge Mary McElroy issued a temporary restraining order, ruling that HUD overstepped its congressional authority and violated legal standards by implementing the new rules in a rushed manner.
- The ruling preserves grant funding until September 30 and prevents politicizing housing aid, providing relief to vulnerable communities and service providers.
25 Articles
25 Articles

Rhode Island judge halts effort by HUD to change criteria for homeless funding
A Rhode Island judge has temporarily stopped the Trump administration from changing the criteria for using tens of millions of dollars in funding to aid homeless people.
R.I. federal judge blocks HUD from rushing through grant awards under revised eligibility rules
Scaffolding covers the facade of the federal courthouse for the District of Rhode Island, as seen from Kennedy Plaza in Providence, on Sept. 9, 2025. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)A Rhode Island federal judge Friday granted a temporary restraining order blocking the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) from awarding grants to applicants responding by a one-week deadline to a drastically revised notice for fund…
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