Trump’s proposed 2026 budget includes one of the biggest shake-ups to housing assistance in decades: a two-year time limit on Section 8 rental vouchers for non-elderly, able-bodied adults. Seniors and people with disabilities would still be eligible for longer-term help, but working families and single parents would have to move off the program within 24 months.
The plan doesn’t stop there. The budget calls for cutting HUD funding by more than 40 percent and turning federal housing programs into block grants managed by the states. That means Section 8, public housing, and other programs would have smaller budgets and far less federal oversight.
What this means for families
For the roughly 2.3 million households receiving Section 8 vouchers, the two-year cap could be devastating. Many families use vouchers as a long-term bridge while working low-wage jobs, raising children, or recovering from financial setbacks. Critics argue that most recipients won’t be able to move into market-rate housing after just two years, leading to higher rates of eviction, housing insecurity, and homelessness.
Parents raising kids in Section 8 housing worry that the time limit could disrupt schooling, stability, and family safety. Advocates note that while the program was never intended as permanent housing for everyone, the proposed cap doesn’t take into account rising rents, stagnant wages, or the affordable housing shortage nationwide.
What this means for landlords
The changes could also shake up the rental market. Landlords who accept Section 8 tenants depend on steady government payments for rent. If millions of tenants are cut off after two years, landlords could face unpaid rents, higher turnover, and more vacancies in already struggling housing markets.
Some property owners may decide the risks outweigh the benefits and stop accepting Section 8 tenants altogether. That would make it even harder for families to find affordable places to live, especially in urban centers where demand is already high.
The budget still needs approval from Congress, which has previously rejected similar cuts. But if passed, the changes could mark the end of Section 8 as families know it.
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