Action Alert: Reject Trump’s FY2026 Budget

May 6, 2025 | Categories: About the FHC, News | Tags: Action Alert, Budget, Fair Housing Center of Southeast & Mid Michigan, Fair Housing Initiatives Program, FHIP, HUD, President Trump, US Department of Housing and Urban Development

As a grantee of HUD’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program, the Fair Housing Center of Southeast & Mid Michigan’s ability to continue enforcing the Federal Fair Housing Act is in jeopardy. President Trump’s proposed FY2026 budget cuts ALL funding to nonprofit fair housing enforcement organizations like ours. Without this funding, tens of thousands of people will lose their ability to exercise their fair housing rights each year. 

Now is the time to speak up. Please contact your senators and representatives to demand the rejection of President Trump’s proposed FY2026 budget; you can use the script and/or talking points below to guide your conversation. You can find your Congress members at the bottom of this page or by entering your address in this link on Congress.gov. This issue affects the entire country, not just Michigan, so please share widely. 

Sample Telephone Script:

Hello, my name is ___________. I am a constituent of [Senator/Representative] ___________’s. I live in _________ and my zip code is _________. 

I’m asking the [Senator/Representative] to reject President Trump’s proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget. Specifically, I hope the [Senator/Representative] will support the continued funding of HUD’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program, or FHIP.

FHIP and fair housing enforcement are important to [me/my community] because ______________________________. 

Again, I ask that you please support the continued funding of the Fair Housing Initiatives Program. 

Thank you for your time.

Talking Points:

• Reject Trump’s proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget. 
• Insist on continued funding of  HUD’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP).
• The FHIP program ensures nonprofit fair housing organizations across the country can provide critical services to people facing discrimination, help keep seniors, people with disabilities, and families with children safely and securely housed, and assist people who are facing dire situations like domestic abuse, or sexual or racial harassment.
• FHIP agencies process 75% of all fair housing complaints lodged in the country. 
• FHIP agencies conduct over 99% of all undercover testing, which results in meaningful settlements for discrimination victims and opens up thousands of units free from discrimination.
• Housing discrimination not only restricts housing choice, including the ability to choose safe and secure housing, but it also perpetuates residential segregation and homelessness. Now is not the time to back away from civil rights enforcement.

“Protection of fair and affordable housing is essential, not optional. It is also the law. Our nation’s fair housing laws ensure families with children, people with disabilities, people of faith, and all persons—no matter their race, color, or national origin—are not discriminated against when they seek housing or lending opportunities.” – NFHA

We will continue to fight and do everything we can to stop illegal housing discrimination. Thank you for your support.

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Senators:

Senator Peters, Gary C.
(202) 224-6221
https://www.peters.senate.gov/contact/

Senator Slotkin, Elissa
(202) 224-4822
https://www.slotkin.senate.gov/

Representatives:

Representative Walberg, Tim
5th District
(202) 225-6276
https://walberg.house.gov/contact

Representative Dingell, Debbie
6th District
(202) 225-4071
https://debbiedingell.house.gov/contact

Representative Barrett, Tom
7th District
(202) 225-4872
https://barrett.house.gov/contact