Many women, children, and families receive housing assistance through U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs that can fund religious organizations. HUD proposed a rule that will create barriers for marginalized populations like women, LGBTQ people, religious minorities, and nonreligious people who seek to use HUD-funded housing assistance. This proposed rule puts the interests of taxpayer-funded religious entities ahead of the needs of women, children, and families seeking critical services.

NWLC submitted a comment to HUD opposing this proposed rule. NWLC’s comment described the importance of seamless access to housing assistance so women and families can have a roof over their head, which is critically important especially as the coronavirus spreads through homeless populations. The comment also argues that HUD failed to provide sufficient justifications for the proposed significant reversal of previous policy, which included many safeguards for beneficiaries.