New tracker helps you navigate the shifting landscape of federal housing policy.
We recently asked you for feedback on what resources and information would be most helpful to you as we all navigate the changes happening at the federal level. From the responses we received, there is a clear need for reliable, up-to-date information in an easy-to-digest format.
President Trump’s recently released FY2026 “skinny budget” proposal has brought federal housing programs to the forefront of discussions, proposing dramatic cuts to HUD—including a $26.7 billion reduction to rental assistance programs and the complete elimination of longstanding programs like CDBG and HOME.
Now more than ever, Virginians need resources to track what steps this administration is already taking to change the existing landscape, to appreciate what federal investments have done for housing in Virginia, and how that might all change moving forward.
Now Live: The Federal Housing Action Tracker
Over 3-in-4 respondents to our survey said that “a centralized news feed tracking federal housing policy changes” would be extremely or very useful to them. The good news? Today, we’ve launched such a resource in partnership with the Virginia Housing Alliance.
The Federal Housing Action Tracker is a free tool providing up-to-date news on federal actions impacting housing across the nation. These include Executive Orders, departmental policy changes, judicial proceedings, and other important changes that can easily get lost in today’s chaotic news cycle.
We’re committed to accuracy above all else. The tracker only includes verified actions from official sources—no rumors, leaks, or unofficial announcements that might later prove incorrect. Each entry features a clear status indicator so you know exactly where things stand.
For every entry, we provide concise TL;DR summaries, explaining what changed and why it matters. Need the complete picture? We include direct links to source materials and original documents. You can also export tracker data as PDFs or spreadsheets for meetings, presentations, or your own analysis—making it easier to share critical information with your team and stakeholders.
Feel free to drop us a line if we missed something or if you want to see more resources like this.
Coming Soon: Visualizing Federal Housing Investments in Virginia
They survey also showed that a “data dashboard [showing] historic and current federal housing investments in Virginia” would be just as useful to many of you. While organizations like the Urban Institute have created impressive resources showing how federal dollars are spent, there’s a need from advocates and policymakers alike to see where federal funds are going, how funding has changed over time, and how much funding has actually been disbursed.
That’s why we’re developing a new Virginia Federal Housing Spending Dashboard. This dashboard will help answer some big questions about federal funding in Virginia, including:
- How have levels of federal housing and community development investments in Virginia evolved?
- How is spending distributed by locality and congressional district?
- How has obligation-to-outlay spending in FY2025 compared to historic trends?
- How much do HUD contracts for goods and services support Virginia-based businesses and workers?
- What are the largest assistance and contract awards currently obligated, but without outlays?
HFV and VHA hope to launch this resource later this year, but we are still actively fundraising to support the creation and maintenance of this much-needed tool. Please reach out to Eric Mai, our Executive Director for Strategy & Sustainability, or Virginia Housing Alliance’s Executive Director, Brian Koziol, to learn how you can support this work. No amount is too small.
What to Expect Next
This work and our partnership with Virginia Housing Alliance align with the goals and objectives of our strategic plan. Through the development of the Federal Housing Action Tracker, we are solidifying our values-based partnerships while continuing to develop core data and policy website resources.
From the survey, many of you had lots of other great ideas on resources and tools that are needed, including:
- A tool tracking publicly-funded housing projects (local, state, and federal)
- A compilation of alternative funding resources
- Tools to track and explain state legislation
- More shareable infographics
We hear you! You’ll be happy to know that some of those things have been on our mind too. Your feedback means a lot to us, so we encourage you to reach out directly when you have a need for data or a resource that does not exist.
To those of you who regularly use our existing tools and resources like Sourcebook or the Virginia Zoning Atlas, thank you! We’d love to hear from you to learn how you’re using these tools and other ways we can support your important work.
Our mission is driven by what you need to make more informed decisions and bring new solutions to Virginia’s housing challenges. Whether you’re using our data visualizations in a grant application or leveraging our research and information to advocate for housing in your community, we want to be your go-to affordable housing experts.