Federal Government Reopens: Updates for Participants and Property Partners

Many of you have likely heard the news that the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history officially ended late Wednesday, November 12, when President Trump signed a funding bill to extend most federal funding through January 30, 2026. This legislation reopens all federal agencies and restores funding for critical programs, including funding SNAP benefits through September 30, 2026.

Key Updates:
– Government Reopened: Federal agencies will resume operations immediately, though some services may take days or weeks to return to normal due to backlogs.

– Housing Programs: HUD and Public Housing Authorities will continue processing Housing Assistance Payments (HAP). The BRHP program will continue to operate without interruption.

– Involuntarily Furloughed Participants: If you were impacted by involuntary federal furloughs, state assistance programs remain available. We urge open communication between participants and property partners about the impact of involuntary furloughs, and for property partners to show grace to tenants impacted by these disruptions. Additional information for involuntarily furloughed participants and property partners with involuntarily furloughed tenants is available below.

– Funding Timeline: The current agreement funds most agencies and programs through January 30, 2026, with funding through September 30, 2026, for agencies in the Agriculture, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs spending plans. This includes funding for SNAP benefits through September 30, 2026.

We will continue to post updates as more information becomes available on a long-term funding plan.

FURLOUGH INFORMATION FOR BRHP PARTICIPANTS AND PROPERTY PARTNERS – NOVEMBER 13, 2025

Information for Participants Impacted by Involuntary Federal Furloughs: 

We understand that some households may be affected by involuntary federal government furloughs. BRHP is committed to supporting all program participants and ensuring housing assistance remains stable and accurate. 

If you are BRHP program participant impacted by an involuntary federal furlough, please note:

– You do not need to submit an interim recertification for your temporary furlough. 
– BRHP will not remove your employer income from your file when determining your tenant portion of rent.
– There will be no change to your current rent portion or assistance amount at this time. 

This approach helps ensure that families receive the appropriate level of housing assistance and avoid overpayment of Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) when furloughed employees receive back pay, which could otherwise result in repayment obligations. 

What You Can Do: 
We encourage you to communicate openly with your landlord about your situation. If needed, consider discussing options such as delayed payments or payment plans, if necessary. 

You may also wish to review resources available from the State of Maryland for impacted federal workers, including interest-free loans, insurance assistance, and information about legal protections for furloughed workers. This guidance includes information on legal housing protections for involuntarily furloughed government workers at risk of eviction or foreclosure and the process to request a temporary pause on the eviction or foreclosure during the shutdown.  

Your housing stability is important to us. If you have questions or need support, please contact counseling@brhp.org. 

Federal Government Shutdown Update – October 1, 2025

As of today, October 1, 2025, the federal government has officially entered a shutdown following Congress’s failure to pass a spending bill to fund federal programs and services beyond September 30th. While negotiations continue, there is currently no agreement on a continuing resolution to temporarily extend funding. 

Once again, BRHP’s housing mobility program remains secure and will continue to provide housing assistance payments during this temporary shutdown. We have resources in place to sustain assistance for a limited time and are actively advocating for full funding of HUD rental assistance programs to protect the housing stability our families rely on. 

Government shutdowns, while disruptive, are typically short in duration. The most recent shutdown in December 2018 lasted 35 days, which was the longest in history. We remain hopeful that Congress will act swiftly to restore funding and minimize impacts on families and communities. You can learn more about the broader impacts of a government shutdown.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates on this page. In the meantime, we continue to encourage you to join us in urging Congress to pass a funding plan that includes full support for the Housing Choice Voucher program. 

Federal Funding Updates & Call to Action – September 26, 2025

You have likely heard that Congress has not yet passed a federal spending bill to fund essential programs and services for Fiscal Year 2026. While Congress is still working on the possibility of a continuing resolution to temporarily continue funding at current levels, reports indicate the growing possibility that they will not come to agreement before the current spending plan expires at the end of the day on September 30, triggering a government shutdown on October 1.   

Should there be no funding agreement before the current spending plan expires, BRHP’s housing mobility program remains secure to continue providing housing assistance payments through a temporary government shutdown. 

BRHP has resources in place to continue housing assistance for a limited time, and we are doing everything we can to advocate for full funding of HUD rental assistance programs to protect the stability our families rely on. 

Government shutdowns are rare and generally very short in duration. The last government shutdown occurred in December 2018 and lasted for 35 days until January 2019, the longest the government has ever shutdown. 

We will continue to provide updates on this page as the situation evolves, but in the meantime please join us in urging Congress to act now to pass a funding plan that includes full funding for the Housing Choice Voucher program.  

Join Us in Supporting Housing Assistance Funding.

We need your voice TODAY to help protect these vital resources and ensure families continue to have access to safe, stable housing and the opportunities it provides going forward. 

Find your Members of Congress and use the talking points below to make a short 2-minute phone call and follow up with an email to urge Congress to act quickly to pass a FY26 spending bill with full funding for the Housing Choice Voucher Program. 

Talking Points:
1. Congress must fully fund the Housing Choice Voucher program in the FY26 spending plan. That means at least $35.65 billion to renew all existing voucher contracts, including Emergency Housing Vouchers. 

2. Housing assistance works. It lifts families out of poverty, improves health outcomes, helps children succeed in school, and provides the stability people need to pursue work and opportunity. 

3. Make it personal – explain briefly why you support the Housing Choice Voucher Program and your personal experience with the program (as a supporter, property partner, or participant). 

BRHP remains committed to ensuring that families have access to safe, stable housing, no matter what challenges lie ahead.