By Esteban Fernandez, Times West Virginian
FAIRMONT — President Trump’s cuts to housing assistance will drastically increase homelessness among West Virginians, according to the Bridgeport-based West Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness.
“I cannot stress enough the level of unprecedented street homelessness this would result in,” Ashley Hawkins, Coalition community relations director, said. “Given the particular demographics that are being targeted, those who are chronically unhoused, those who are disabled, many of these individuals are elderly.
“Those increased levels of street homelessness are going to result in increased casualties. There is no way around it. People die on the streets and if you have more people on the streets, more people will die.”
The program which funds housing assistance, the Continuum of Care Program, has $3.9 billion in funds and is administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Previously, roughly 87% of the program went toward a type of assistance called permanent supportive housing, according to the National Association of Counties. However, Trump shifted funding levels within the program, and capped spending on permanent supportive housing at 30%.
Hawkins said because of its name, people tend to misconstrue what permanent supportive housing is.
Image by Eddie Trizzino, Times West Virginian