2019 Government Shutdown Timeline
Impact on Affordable Housing and Low-Income Americans
Last Updated January 24th, 2019
Millions of low-income renters will find themselves in dire straits if the partial shutdown of the federal government does not end soon. Some affordable housing properties have already had their rental assistance frozen, and most federal housing assistance funding will run out by the end of February.
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The Government Shutdown Begins.
December 22nd, 2018 - Day 1
The federal government enters a partial shutdown as President Trump and his congressional allies press for a wall on the southern border. More Coverage.
Vice President Pence and Senate Minority Leader Schumer Suggest Comprimise to Re-open Government.
December 22nd, 2018 - Day 1
Vice President Mike Pence met with Schumer to suggest a compromise of $2.5 billion in border security funding, including money for a border fence. This compromise would fall $2.5 billion short of the President Trump's demands for full border wall funding.
Public Housing Capital Funds Are Unavailable to Housing Authorities; 2-Million Residents Potentially Affected.
January 1st, 2019 - Day 11
In the absence of a full-year FY19 HUD funding bill in place, Housing Authorities are unable to access capital funds for critical repairs and unit upgrades. The Capital Fund backlog was last estimated in 2010 to be $26 billion. More Coverage.
President Trump Rejects Compromise to Fund the Government.
January 2nd, 2019 - Day 12
President Trump rejects Vice President Pence and Senator Schumer's proposals for reopening the government without funding for a wall on the southern border.
House Passes Funding Bill Without Wall Funding.
January 3rd, 2019 - Day 13
House of Representives passes legislative packages to reopen the government without wall funding. Without a provision for the border wall, the bill does not reach the Senate floor.
HUD Fails to Renew 650 Rental Assistance Contracts Affecting 21,500 Low-Income Households.
January 5th, 2019 - Day 15
An estimated two-thirds of affected households are elderly or headed by persons with disabilities; Average household income of affected families is less than $13,000 a year. More Coverage.
HUD Accused of Being Unprepared for Shutdown.
January 7th, 2019 - Day 17
HUD accused by Democrat representatives of failing to act on preserving affordable housing during a government shutdown. HUD tells NBC that 1,150 contracts under PBRA had lapsed since the start of the year, an additional 500 will expire by January 31st, and 550 more will expire in February.
House Passes Spending Bill; Senate Does Not Vote on Bill.
January 10th, 2019 - Day 20
House of Representatives votes 244-180 to fund DoT, HUD, USDA. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell does not bring the bill to a vote.
700 USDA Section 515 Properties Identified as Not Having Subsidy Contract Renewed.
January 11th, 2019 - Day 21
USDA Rural Development states 700 apartment communities did not receive a renewal of Section 521 Rental Assistance prior to the government shutdown. These rental assistance contracts, due for renewal in February, will not be funded at that time. More Coverage.
President Trump Rejects a Short-term Fix; McConnell Says Senate Won't Override Trump Veto.
January 15th, 2019 - Day 25
President Donald Trump has rejected a short-term legislative fix for the partial government shutdown, declaring he will 'never ever back down.' Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell declares senate will not override the President's veto.
The House passes a Democratic bill to temporarily reopen the government through February 8th.
January 17th, 2019 - Day 27
The measure - approved 237-187 on Wednesday mostly along party lines - is not expected to pass the Senate or be signed into law by the President. The White House says President Donald Trump will veto any bill without provisions for border security.
Senate Majority Leader McConnell blocks vote to reopen most of the federal government.
January 17th, 2019 - Day 27
Sen. Tim Kaine attempted to get consent to take up a House-passed bill that would reopen all agencies except the Department of Homeland Security. McConnell did not explain his objection. This is the third time that McConnell has blocked House-passed government funding bills in the past two weeks.
170 Congressional Leaders Sign Letter Urging President Trump to Reopen HUD.
January 18th, 2019 - Day 28
“This partial shutdown is undermining both the short-term operations and long-term viability of our affordable housing programs that serve over four million Americans, the majority of whom are seniors and people with disabilities living on a fixed income,” the letter states. “For the sake of the families whose homes are at stake, we urge you to end the shutdown and protect the American people.”
President Trump Offers DACA Extension, Temporary Protected Status Reversal in Exchange for Border Wall.
January 19th, 2019 - Day 29
The deal would reopen the federal government. Democrats accuse the president of negotiating in bad faith as the administration's attempts to rescind DACA has been blocked in federal court, and a court decision on the administration's right to revoke Temporary Protected Statuses is expected in March.
Senate Announces Vote on Trump Proposal; Speaker Pelosi Refuses Negotiations While Government Remains Closed.
January 22nd, 2019 - Day 32
Senate Majority Leader McConnell announces that the Senate will vote on the deal the President proposed on January 19th. House Speaker Pelosi made clear that Democrats will not trade temporary protections for DACA recipients in exchange for $5.7 billion for a border wall.
White House Asks for List of Programs Vulnerable to an Extended Shutdown.
January 23rd, 2019 - Day 33
Acting Chief of Staff Mulvaney has requested that federal agency leaders proide the White House with a list of programs at risk if the shutdown continues into March and April. Many agency leaders already struggling to keep their agencies functioning after a month without essential staff or funding.
Senate Votes on Two Competing Bills to Reopen Government; Both Votes Fail.
January 24th, 2019 - Day 34
The Republican plan would have reopened the government through September and provided the $5.7 Billion the President demanded for building a border Wall. It was rejected with 50 votes for and 47 against. The Democrat plan would have reopened the government temporarily through February 8th and set aside no funding for a border wall. It was rejected with 52 votes for and 44 against. A bill needs 60 votes to succeed in the Senate.
Trump, Congressional Leaders Reach Short Term Deal to End Shutdown.
January 25th, 2019 - Day 35
After a 35 day partial shutdown, President Donald Trump and congressional leaders set to seal a short-term deal to reopen the government for three week thrrough February 15th.
New Voucher Recipients Uncertain About Assistance Timeline
January 26th, 2019 - Day 36
Already delayed by a record long shutdown, new voucher recipients and housing authorities are uncertain when assistance will be available. Industry advocates say that it will take time for HUD to understand the impact of the shuitdown. Additionally, PHAs are uncertain about the future of affordable housing funding if the government shuts down again on February 15th.
PHA's Receive Last Housing Choice Voucher Payments for Disbursement During Shutdown.
February 1st, 2019 - Day 42
If the shutdown were to continue, the last Housing Choice Voucher payment HUD is able to make while the shutdown continues is issued to Housing Authorities. Housing Authorities use this funding to pay landlords participating in the Housing Choice Voucher program and reimburse extremely low-income households for utility payments.
700 USDA Section 521 Properties Do Not Receive Subsidiy Payments.
February 1st, 2019 - Day 42
Approximately 700 apartment communities across the country will not receive subsidy payments today because their contracts were not renewed prior to the shutdown taking effect. Since Section 515/521 does not have strong tenant protection policies in place, tenants may be at risk of rent increases or eviction. If tenants receive rent increase or eviction notices, they can appeal to USDA. More Coverage.
Housing Choice Voucher Payments to Landlords No Longer Funded, No New Vouchers Are Issued
March 1st, 2019 - Day 70
If the shutdown were to continue, Public Housing Authorities are no longer receiving funds to pay rent subsidies to landlords through the Housing Choice Voucher program. No new vouchers will be issued to low-income families on Housing Choice Voucher waiting lists. Approximately $1.5 billion in landlord checks and tenant utility reimbursement checks will not go out. PHA's will not receive administrative fees.
Operating Funds No Longer Available for Public Housing
March 1st, 2019 - Day 70
If the shutdown were to continue, funds for Public Housing operating costs, utility costs, routine maintenance, emergency repairs, and tenant application processing are no longer available for Public Housing Agencies.
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