Trump’s 2025 Policies Deepen America’s Affordable Housing Crisis for the Poorest Renters

In 2025, the U.S. faces a dire shortage of 7.1 million affordable rental homes for extremely low-income renters—those earning at or below the federal poverty line or 30% of their area’s median income. With only 35 affordable and available homes per 100 such households, families, seniors, and individuals are caught in a vise of rising rents and stagnant wages. New executive orders from the Trump administration, starting January 2025, threaten to worsen this crisis, pushing the most vulnerable closer to eviction and homelessness. Here’s how these policies collide with an already broken housing system and what it means for American households.

A National Housing Emergency

The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) highlights a brutal reality: no state or major metro area has enough affordable rental homes for its poorest residents. Nevada offers just 17 homes per 100 extremely low-income households, while even North Dakota, the least severe, provides only 62. In 11 of the 50 largest metro areas, the shortage exceeds 100,000 units. This gap forces over 10 million low-income households to spend more than half their income on rent, leaving them one missed paycheck from disaster.

Quick stat: 770,000 Americans experience homelessness nightly, a direct consequence of this shortage.

Trump’s Policies: Pouring Fuel on the Fire

President Trump’s 2025 executive orders target federal housing programs and protections, amplifying the crisis:

• Slashing Equity Efforts: By dismantling diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) programs, the administration undermines HUD’s ability to address systemic racism in housing. Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color, who face disproportionate housing insecurity, lose critical fair housing protections.

• HUD Hiring Freeze: A freeze on federal hiring cripples HUD’s capacity to manage $255 billion in housing investments. Understaffed, HUD struggles to fund rental assistance or support local housing projects, stalling solutions for states and cities.

• Sanctuary City Penalties: Trump’s order to withhold federal funds from sanctuary jurisdictions—cities limiting cooperation with immigration enforcement—could cut off housing grants. Cities like Los Angeles or Chicago risk losing millions, halting affordable housing construction and homelessness prevention.

• Immigrant Deterrence: Allowing immigration enforcement in “sensitive” areas like shelters and disaster relief centers deters immigrant families, including U.S. citizen children, from seeking aid. Fear of deportation could drive them away from rental assistance or safe housing.

• LGBTQ Protections Rolled Back: Rescinding fair housing protections for LGBTQ individuals, especially transgender people, risks pushing more into unsheltered homelessness, as shelters become less accessible.

Real-world impact: A single mother in Miami, already competing for one of 22 affordable homes per 100 households, now faces reduced HUD support and potential immigration enforcement at shelters.

Why the Shortage Persists

The 7.1 million-home gap stems from decades of underfunding, zoning restrictions, and market pressures. Federal housing vouchers reach only one in four eligible households. Luxury developments dominate, while low-rent units—down 2 million since 2000—are lost to gentrification or demolition. Trump’s policies exacerbate these trends by diverting focus from supply-side solutions like subsidized housing or tax incentives for affordable construction.

Example: In New York City, where the shortage tops 200,000 units, new HUD restrictions could delay projects like the $1.4 billion Gowanus rezoning, meant to add 3,000 affordable homes.

The Human Cost

Behind the numbers are stories of struggle. A disabled veteran in Atlanta chooses between rent and medication. A family in Las Vegas faces eviction after a rent hike. A transgender youth in Seattle avoids shelters, fearing discrimination. These policies hit hardest at the margins, increasing evictions (up 22% in some cities since COVID) and homelessness. The ripple effects—poorer health, disrupted education, and lost economic opportunity—trap families in poverty.

Did you know? A renter earning $15,000 annually can afford $375 monthly, yet average rents in most metros exceed $1,500.

Can We Fix This?

Solutions exist but require political courage. Expanding housing vouchers, reforming zoning for multifamily units, and protecting federal funding could close the gap. States like Oregon have seen success with relaxed zoning, adding affordable units. But Trump’s orders shift focus away from these fixes, prioritizing punitive measures over people. Advocates are fighting back, with legal challenges like a February 2025 injunction against the DEIA rollback, but the clock is ticking.

Bright spot: Grassroots campaigns are pressuring Congress to boost HUD’s 2026 budget by $10 billion for vouchers and public housing.

A Call to Action

The affordable housing crisis, worsened by 2025’s executive orders, demands urgent attention. Voters ranked housing a top issue in 2024, yet policy is moving backward. We must amplify the voices of the 7.1 million households at risk and demand leaders prioritize homes over headlines. In 2025, every American deserves a shot at stability.

Thought Questions:

1. How can your community push back against federal policies that cut housing funds?

2. What role should local governments play in building affordable housing despite HUD constraints?

3. How might Trump’s immigration enforcement policies affect housing access in your area?