Photo by Dylan Gonzales | Tyrone Roderick Williams, CEO of Fresno Housing, speaks at a May 16 news conference at Parc Grove Commons.

Fresno housing officials are raising concerns about potential consequences from proposed federal budget cuts that could impact affordable housing across Fresno County.

At a May 16 news conference hosted at the Parc Grove Commons apartment complex in Fresno, Tyrone Roderick Williams, CEO of Fresno Housing, said the draft budget for fiscal year 2026 includes major reductions to several key housing programs managed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that can significantly impact Fresno.

In early May, President Donald Trump released his recommendations on discretionary funding levels for 2026.

The White House budget document argues that programs like Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) — used by over 1,200 state and local governments — are “poorly targeted.” The proposal claims such programs are better administered locally and not appropriate for federal funding.

HOME, another core HUD program that supports affordable housing development, would also be eliminated. The administration argues that the federal role increases regulatory burdens and that housing affordability challenges are better addressed at the state and local level.

Affordable housing advocates like Williams said the cuts could impact services that are used by thousands of low-income families, seniors and individuals with disabilities who rely on federal support to have stable housing.

The voucher program, also known as Section 8, supports 11,000 families in the county. According to Williams, the cuts would also affect more than 2,700 local landlords who receive nearly $12 million in monthly rent payments through the program — money that goes into the local economy.

The proposed cuts could remove $72 million annually from Fresno County’s economy

Williams said Fresno Housing has been tracking the budget proposal and informing the community about its implications. While the proposal is not yet law, public awareness and advocacy are important for Williams.

“We’ve got to spread the word and ring the bell, shout the alarm,” Williams said. “We’ve got to think about impacts first before we go into massive, severe, catastrophic budget cuts, another aspect that’s being proposed.”

Williams said one development alone can require up to seven funding sources to become viable.

“To eliminate HOME at the same time we say we’re in a housing crisis is unconscionable,” he said.

Another proposal troubling Williams would impose a two-year time limit on able-bodied adults’ use of housing vouchers. Williams said Fresno Housing data shows that it typically takes anywhere from five to 10 years for residents to achieve self-sufficiency.

While Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer wasn’t in attendance, Williams said the mayor supports the message Williams is sending.

Sharon Williams, the chair of the city board of commissioners, a mother of five and a former Fresno Housing Authority resident, urged lawmakers not to cut housing assistance programs in a call to action that received an ovation from attendees.

“There’s a storm out over the ocean and it’s moving this way,” she said, invoking a church song to describe the current housing crisis. “We are living in the midst of turmoil.”

She called out lawmakers on both sides of the political spectrum, asking them to take action.

“You made a platform on our backs… We the people want you to be responsible, and we hold you accountable,” she said. “We cast our votes for you… Don’t you forget the people you promised.”