A Call for Support for Homeless

An important message from our CEO, Dr. Katie Spencer White - 11/17/25

Dear Friends,

Last week, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released a new Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) that will devastate low income renters across the US.

For several decades, federal funding to prevent and end homelessness has been allocated through the Continuum of Care program. The Maine Continuum of Care received approximately $22 million in 2025 and $16 million these funds was used to subsidize thousands of vouchers and permanent supportive housing (PSH) units for the poor and disabled.

The Trump administration has decided to drastically change the rules of CoC funding and announced in the NOFO that they are capping spending on vouchers and PSH at 30% of CoC funds, which means a net loss of $10 million for permanent housing solutions for the most vulnerable Mainers.

Across Maine, over 1000 low income renters who rely on housing vouchers will lose those vouchers, some as early as January.

Believe it or not, this is the good news. State leaders continue to review the 128 page federal application, and there is a strong likelihood that other changes to the rules will result in the loss of even more money.

This is a dramatic shift in federal policy, one that a small, rural state like Maine cannot fix on its own.

Here in the Waterville area, we could see anywhere from 30-70 households lose their rental subsidy. That's dozens of people who are currently safely housed who will be returned to homelessness, not because they weren't good tenants but because this administration believes everyone should be self-sufficient, irrespective of age or disability.

The draconian nature of the cuts combined with other onerous program requirements will devastate communities across Maine.

It also sadly ends more than two decades of bipartisan agreement on the most effective and ethical approaches to solving one of our most intractable problems.

I wish I could tell everyone not to worry, that state leaders are working on a plan to backfill the loss of funding. But the amount is too big, and our state coffers are ill equipped to deal with this loss.

I encourage you to contact our federal delegation, including Senator Collins and Senator King. Both have been champions for securing resources for our state. As the government reopens, they need to hear loud and clear from constituents across the state.

Also reach out to your state legislators - the emergency session is just getting started and they need to hear from constituents, too.

For now, our shelter and our expanded warming center is open to all. We will continue to serve and will welcome as many people as possible now and through the winter.

Just like we've done for years, we'll keep a light on for anyone who needs it during these dark times.

In partnership,

Katie

Senator Susan Collins

Email Senator Collins

413 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

DC: (202) 224-2523

Augusta: (207) 622-8414

Senator Angus King

Email Senator King

133 Hart Senate Office Building