HUD Threatens to Remove Key LGBTQ+ Protections

This Pride Month carried renewed urgency amid the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) proposed changes to the Equal Access Rule (EAR), which would rescind key LGBTQ+ protections. EAR requires all recipients of HUD funding to provide equal access to facilities and services in accordance with an individual’s gender identity. HUD’s proposal, released in April 2026, removes references to gender identity and sexual orientation, assigns shelter according to HUD’s biological definition of sex, and eliminates protections against discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation.

Discrimination is one of the leading causes of LGBTQ+ homelessness, particularly for LGBTQ+ youth, who are 120% more likely to experience homelessness than their straight or cisgender peers. HUD’s proposed changes to EAR will compound existing disparities and place LGBTQ+ individuals in dangerous situations. At Housing Up, we stand firmly in the belief that gender identity and sexual orientation should never be barriers to safe and affordable housing. Click here to read our most recent blog post on HUD’s proposed changes to EAR and stand with us this Pride Month – and year-round – in advocating for safe and affordable housing for all.

Our 2026 Back to School Drive is Here!

Housing Up is launching our annual Back to School Drive, and this year, we’re excited to introduce our new Community Sponsorship opportunity. See hope in action by sponsoring a Housing Up community, such as Fort View Apartments, The Faircliff, or Weinberg Commons. Our Back to School Drive provides the children we serve with backpacks filled with essential supplies, ensuring all children are prepared for a successful school year.

Can’t sponsor a community, but still want to help? Make a donation to our 2026 Back to School Drive fund, purchase supplies from our Amazon wishlist, or volunteer to help assemble the backpacks. To learn more about Community Sponsorship opportunities, please contact Julia Bliss, Communications & Engagement Assistant, at jbliss@housingup.org.

Family Homelessness in DC is on the Rise in 2026

This May, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) released the results of the 2026 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, the city’s annual census of homelessness on a single night. While the PIT Count only provides a snapshot of homelessness, it remains the gold standard for measuring homelessness and informing policy. On the night of the PIT Count, 5,363 people were experiencing homelessness in DC, a 4.4% increase from 2025. 

This surge was driven almost entirely by a 15.8% rise in family homelessness, with 530 families experiencing homelessness. According to the DC government, this increase reflects policy changes that prioritize placing families in appropriate housing and preventing returns to homelessness, resulting in longer shelter stays. While a 30% decline in families entering the shelter system supports this claim, recent cuts to critical programs and growing economic strain threaten the stability of many low-income families across the city. To learn more about the 2026 PIT Count results and preserving the path to housing for all, click here to read our blog post.