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Housing authority warns of possible federal rule change affecting 'mixed‑status' families
Summary
Staff told the Contra Costa housing commissioners that federal notice activity and a new interagency MOU could restrict assistance to families with noncitizen members; locally the authority reported 31 mixed-status families in its 'bachelor' program, nine in public housing, and 49 ineligible noncitizens among 154 members across those families.
Contra Costa County Housing Authority staff warned commissioners Tuesday about potential federal changes that could reduce or eliminate housing assistance for families with members who lack eligible immigration status.
"For our program...we do not fully fund families with mixed status," Joseph said, describing a long-standing federal rule dating to the 1990s that reduces subsidy when some household members are ineligible. He said the authority currently has 31 mixed-status families in its bachelor program and nine in public-housing families; those households together account for 154 members, of whom 49 were described in the meeting record as ineligible noncitizens.
Staff outlined the federal rulemaking process and said a notice had gone to the Office of Management and Budget and that the Department of Homeland Security and HUD had signed a memorandum of understanding. "We have not seen the letter that was sent to Washington, D.C.," Joseph said, and he added that the authority will share any letters and discuss them again in December.
Commissioners asked for more detailed breakdowns, including how many residents are legal permanent residents versus citizens; Joseph said that breakdown "has not been broken out" yet but that staff would provide updated numbers. Commissioners and public commenters raised concerns about potential enforcement consequences if documented information is shared, including whether Immigration and Customs Enforcement could access updated household information.
No formal action was taken; the board accepted the report and asked staff to provide further information as federal notices become available.
