A new building in Santa Monica under construction will house forty apartment units and four retail stores at the intersection of Wilshire and 6th Street. Concerns are rising among housing advocates about the potential impact on mixed-status families, where at least one member is undocumented, if the federal government enacts a rule to bar them from receiving public housing and Section 8 vouchers. While the proposed rule was not implemented during Trump’s first term, there is fear that a similar policy might displace thousands of people in California.
Chione Flegal, executive director of Housing California, warned of the difficult choices mixed-status families would have to make if they were to lose access to housing assistance. While Trump has not provided specifics about his housing plans, the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 blueprint calls for reviving the ban on mixed-status families among other changes.
California could potentially counteract federal rules by supplementing Section 8 voucher funding or building affordable housing using state funds. However, these options would come at significant costs. With over 115,000 undocumented children in California, there is widespread concern about the potential impacts of federal housing policies on immigrant families in the state. This uncertainty highlights the need for continued coverage and advocacy to ensure equitable access to housing for all Californians, regardless of immigration status.
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Photo credit calmatters.org
