Polk County housing officials warn proposed HUD budget would cut local aid, urge lawmakers to preserve direct allocations

West Valley and Salem housing authority representatives told the Polk County Board of Commissioners on May 27 that parts of the presidential FY26 budget outline and a House reconciliation package could sharply reduce federal housing dollars reaching Polk County if direct allocations are moved through the state.

"We are the boots on the ground and can help and assist those, and inform some of those decisions rather than just having it taken away completely and handed to the state," said Jessica Blakely, a Polk County resident and former West Valley Housing Authority board member who works at the Salem Housing Authority.

Blakely said the “skinny” presidential proposed budget would consolidate many direct allocations into a state rental assistance block grant and would eliminate programs including the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME, and family self‑sufficiency funding. She and Christian (director of the West…