A federal judge ordered the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on Friday to halt changes to a program that keeps more than a thousand Mainers in permanent housing, although the federal agency had already rescinded its plan.
A coalition of states, including Maine, challenged the federal agency’s changes to the Continuums of Care program, which supports about 1,800 residents here with housing assistance.
Last week, shortly before a court hearing on the policy change, HUD rescinded its application that would have effectively cut off funding for hundreds of vouchers used to house vulnerable Mainers. The restrictions would have allowed no more than 30% of funding for statewide Continuums of Care to be used for permanent supportive housing.
U.S. District Court Judge Mary McElroy on Friday directed HUD to process applications under the terms that existed prior to its program changes, according to the Maine attorney general’s office.
“With the court ordering the federal government to simply follow the law and release critical housing program grant funds as Congress directed, stability and the rule of law are being advanced over the chaos and ideological whims of this administration,” Attorney General Aaron Frey said in a statement.
BDN writer Annie Rupertus contributed reporting.