April 30, 2026 | Vol. 30 No. 6 | Archives
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Take Action: Support Street Medicine & the HCH Community in Phoenix!
- President Calls for More Cuts to Health + Housing (+ action item!)
- HHS Good News!
- HHS Not-so-good News!
- HUD CoC Updates
- Despite Major Error, CMS Continues Fraud Crackdown
- What (Else) We’re Reading
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Support Street Medicine & the HCH Community in Phoenix! |
A proposed city ordinance would effectively ban medical care for people experiencing homelessness in Phoenix city parks by restricting street medicine, harm reduction services, and food distribution through a very limited and unworkable permit system.
The ordinance is scheduled for a May 6 vote and would go into effect on June 1, just as extreme heat begins and lack of access to care can be deadly for those without shelter.
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We’re asking individuals and organizations across the country to stand with Phoenix by signing on to letters of opposition. Please add your name and/or organization by end of day on Friday, May 1 (that’s tomorrow!)
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President Calls for More Cuts to Health + Housing |
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The President released his Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) budget request, once again proposing deep cuts to health care and housing, even though they included a $19 million increase in discretionary funding for community health centers (which includes Health Care for the Homeless programs). As a reminder, this is a blueprint for Congress, not law. For example, in FY26, Congress largely rejected the President’s proposal.
The FY27 budget request includes:
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- $5 billion cuts to HRSA, SAMHSA, and CDC to consolidate them into the new Administration for a Healthy America
- Elimination of HUD’s Continuum of Care program ($393 million cut)
- Elimination of the Community Services Block Grant ($775 million cut)
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Contact your members of Congress by calling 202-224-3121 and urge them to provide the highest possible funding for key programs including the Community Health Center Program and HUD housing programs! Describe why this funding is important to your local community and why cuts to these programs will only harm vulnerable people without solving any of our health and housing problems.
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Some good news (finally) came out of HHS this month! CMS issued a proposed rule to speed up prescription drug approvals with implementation in October 2027. If finalized, the rule will increase access to care, reduce administrative burden on providers, and improve health care outcomes for patients. Read more about the proposed rule in our press statement: Proposed Rule to Speed Prescription Drug Approvals.
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The Department also announced a new health care advisory committee comprised of 18 members tasked with providing expert advice on improving, strengthening and modernizing U.S. healthcare. One of the focus areas is “enhancing care for vulnerable populations, including those served by Medicaid.” Unfortunately, this mandate conflicts with the Medicaid cuts recently enacted through H.R.1 which will move us in the opposite direction.
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More good news this month! Two new rulings came out related to HUD’s Continuum of Care (CoC) Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs):
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CoC Builds: A federal judge in Rhode Island issued a ruling against the Administration, finding that the new criteria in the Builds grants were unlawful.
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CoC FY25 NOFO: The First Circuit Court of Appeals denied the Administration’s request to overturn a prior ruling that prevents the administration from implementing the new NOFO which includes major restrictions on grantees and permanent supportive housing.
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Despite Major Error, CMS Continues Fraud Crackdown |
CMS recently admitted to making a major error in the fraud allegations against New York state. Initially, claiming that 5 million individuals received personal care services, the actual number turned out to be only 450,000 people. Despite that massive error, CMS Administrator Dr. Oz continued the administration’s crusade on fraud, waste, and abuse by announcing a 50-state audit of Medicaid programs. And, on the Hill, HHS Secretary Kennedy doubled down on fraud, specifically calling out programs that support family members of the elderly and disabled individuals, drawing sharp backlash from advocates across the country.
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What (Else) We're Reading |
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Register today to join us in Orlando |
Please join us in Orlando, June 8-11, 2026, for the country’s largest gathering of practitioners of homeless health care, medical respite care, advocates, people with lived experience of homelessness, and researchers about homelessness. This conference offers tremendous opportunity to learn, grow professionally, reconnect with colleagues, and make new connections with our community.
Get details, including location information, the most current schedule of events, frequently asked questions and more on our website.
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| Laura Brennan
Senior Policy Manager
National Health Care for the Homeless Council
lbrennan@nhchc.org
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Your support is crucial!
All our advocacy work — including this newsletter! — is funded by dues from NHCHC's members and private donations. Consider joining the Council or donating to support this work!
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Copyright © 2026 National Health Care for the Homeless Council, Inc.
www.nhchc.org | (615) 226-2292
100 Powell Place #1558 | Nashville, TN 37204 US
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