California nonprofits perform crucial homelessness outreach. Federal cuts threaten that work | Opinion

The decision by the Department of Government Engagement to halt funding essential to nonprofits through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is utterly baffling. As a partner in Sacramento Social Venture Philanthropy and Greater Sacramento Impact 100, I have a front row seat to watch how local organizations are impacted by these potential staff cuts and funding freezes.

My work as a national nonprofit consultant has given me the opportunity to work closely with organizations such as 5 Cities Homeless Coalition and El Camino Homeless Services on California’s Central Coast, organizations dedicated to addressing the nation’s homelessness crisis.

The efforts of nonprofits such as Saint John’s Program for Real Change here in Sacramento are neither wasteful nor without significant positive outcomes. Agencies I collaborate with have made substantial strides in housing and homelessness prevention for years.

Currently, U.S. homeless providers across the country are awaiting word about some $3.6 billion in pending federal grants. Amid cuts at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the fear is that promised money won’t arrive.

These federal grants fund warming centers, which provide crucial refuge for those facing extreme weather conditions; shelter programs, which offer temporary shelter and comprehensive case management; permanent housing transition programs; and outreach efforts.

Shelter programs may provide assistance supplying medications, support for addiction recovery and assistance with legal issues. These programs also provide parenting classes, nutrition support, job training, career counseling and financial education. Addressing these basic needs often enables individuals to move toward self-sufficiency.

Permanent housing transition programs, meanwhile, facilitate transitions to tiny homes, cabins or studio apartments in reconditioned hotels, supporting residents in obtaining and maintaining employment while teaching financial management skills. And outreach programs help build trust with unhoused individuals through outreach workers — some who may have been previously homeless themselves — who spent time in creek beds, encampments and on the streets, engaging with those in the most challenging circumstances and providing a critical link to support services.

Front-line staff at nonprofits performing some of the most vital, critical work in our communities often make salaries that keep them just above the poverty line. These employees also face physical and emotional risks daily, yet they continue to show up despite public criticism and funding challenges.

Recent data shows that the increasing rate of homelessness in California may finally be slowing. That means that the work we are doing to address this crisis in our state is working. Funding cuts to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, however, will dismantle successful, effective programs.

And the Department of Government Efficiency’s funding freezes and cuts aren’t limited to homeless services — every nonprofit is vulnerable, including domestic violence shelters, food banks, youth services, programs for veterans and medical research. These cuts will undoubtedly impact all Americans, whether directly or indirectly.

The U.S. has more than 1.8 million nonprofit organizations doing essential work that the government lacks either the skills or desire to perform. These cuts threaten the health, wellness and stability of every American.

So what can we do? Contact your elected officials and demand they oppose the Trump administration’s short-sighted, harmful cuts to essential organizations that will tear apart community safety nets.