Saying President Donald Trump’s proposed cuts to housing programs could leave 5,500 Fresno County households homeless, Tyrone Roderick Williams, president and CEO of Fresno Housing, called on the federal government to preserve funding.

The U.S. Office of Management and Budget proposed $32.9 billion in cuts to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development programs on May 2.

Those cuts include 50% reductions in rental assistance that Fresno Housing uses to fund housing choice vouchers — also known as Section 8, which more than 11,000 Fresno County households rely on for rent, said Williams at a Friday news conference. Another 26,000 households are on a waiting list for vouchers.

The government also proposed a two-year limit on households to use those vouchers.

“A 50% reduction in public housing operating funds and funds to manage and keep repairs up to standards would be devastating to us,” said Williams. “But not only to us, the people who live in our public housing, the people who live in all of our developments.”

Related Story: Republicans Reject Trump Tax-Cut Bill After President Calls for Unity

Feds Want States to Be Responsible, but That Takes Time: Williams

More than 70% of Fresno Housing funding comes from federal sources.

Management and Budget Director Russell Vought said in his proposal the federal administration wanted to shift the responsibility of distributing housing funds to the state.

“The budget empowers states by transforming the current federal dysfunctional rental assistance programs into a state-based formula grant which would allow states to design their own rental assistance programs based on their unique needs and preferences,” according to the budget proposal.

Vought’s office said the transition to states would also be more efficient by reducing federal regulations.

States, however, don’t have the infrastructure to administer funds. Getting a program up and running effectively could take years, Williams said. The state of California also faces a $12 billion budget deficit.

The sudden cuts would impact families who rely on housing vouchers to make rent and stay in their homes.

“All the work that’s been done to touch those families and individuals over the last five to six years would be wiped away,” Williams said. “We could end up tripling the number of individuals and families who experience homelessness.

The voucher program also supports landlords. It invests $12 million monthly into local economies, Williams said.

The California Apartment Association likewise called on congress to preserve the program.

“The president’s proposed budget introduces troubling uncertainty for both renters who rely on this support and housing providers mandated to participate,” said Tom Bannon CEO of the association. “Congress must preserve the program’s core protections or establish a suitable alternative that ensures continued housing stability for vulnerable households.”

Budget Cuts Impact Every Level of Affordable Housing

Williams acknowledged that federal claims of some people taking advantage of government programs are true. But he said the severity of the cuts happened without discussion or precision. He also said a two-year time limit is not enough.

Fresno Housing has found a more effective timespan would be closer to five to 10 years, he said.

“Let’s have a discussion about what’s realistic,” Williams said.

The broad cuts proposed by the federal administration also impact every level of housing affordability.

Vought’s office said state and local governments abuse the Community Development Block Grant program, which funds affordable housing projects. He proposed a $3.3 billion cut to the program.

Fresno Housing has used CDBG funds to build affordable housing projects The Arthur @ Blackstone, Linnaea Villa, Corazon Del Valle Commons, and The Monarch @ Chinatown.

Vought’s office said in its report that CDBG funding has gone to breweries, skate parks, and theater arts programs.

Williams, however, said CDBG money makes up essential sources for affordable housing reliant on government funding. And, with state funding drying up, every source becomes critical, he said.

“At the same time that we’re talking about a two-year limit that a person would would have to be able to earn enough money to move into the market rate, we are eliminating the ladders of opportunity to help them achieve that,” Williams said.

Trump Proposes 13% Increase on Defense Spending

Trump’s proposed budget has hurdles ahead. For example, it failed a key procedural vote Friday.

Hardline Republicans called for deeper spending cuts than previously proposed, according to Reuters. Others warned deeper spending cuts to social safety net programs could jeopardize the 220-213 seat majority in the 2026 midterm elections.

Trump also proposed a 13% increase in defense spending from last year, according to the Office of Management and Budget.

Williams said people should call legislators to tell them the importance of keeping HUD programs: “Memorial Day is in just two weeks. Many of the conversations and discussion will have already ended; the train will have already left the station.”