Government Shutdown
The 2025 government shutdown began last night. It raises big questions for affordable housing. The most urgent: Will rent be paid?
A government shutdown creates uncertainty across many sectors. For affordable housing, property owners, agents, and residents often wonder how a shutdown might affect payments, contracts, and daily operations.
As a Performance-Based Contract Administrator (PBCA), Navigate helps HUD process housing assistance payments and oversee compliance. Here’s what you need to know.
What Owners and Agents Need to Know
- Payments Will Continue: Monthly Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) will not be interrupted by a government shutdown.
- Renewals and Rent Adjustments: Contract renewals and rent adjustment requests will continue to be processed. Submit them as usual.
- Voucher Submission: Continue to submit vouchers on your normal schedule.
- Inspections:
- Management and Occupancy Reviews (MORs): These will continue as scheduled. Contact your Relationship Manager with questions.
- REAC/NSPIRE Inspections: Per HUD’s 2025 Contingency Plan, previously awarded inspections funded by prior obligations will continue.
- Inspections where the mortgagee is responsible for procurement will also continue.
- See HUD Plan, page 14 for more details.
- Support: If you have questions about vouchers, renewals, or adjustments, contact your Navigate Voucher Specialist or Contract Management Specialist.
What Residents Need to Know
Residents may be most concerned about whether their rent will change during a government shutdown. The answer is simple:
- Your Rent Does Not Increase: Residents should continue to pay their normal portion of rent.
- No Change Because of Shutdown: HUD’s portion of assistance continues, and your share does not change.
- Concerns: If a resident believes their rent has been adjusted due to the shutdown, please contact us at 888-466-5572.
For PBCAs and residents, government shutdowns can feel uncertain. However, housing assistance payments, renewals, and rent adjustments continue as usual. Residents’ rent responsibilities remain unchanged.
Navigate is here to provide clear guidance and support for owners, agents, staff, and residents during any disruption.
FAQs
- Can vouchers still be processed during the shutdown? Yes. If you have any questions, please contact your Voucher Specialist.
- Should I continue to submit my contract renewal and rent adjustment requests? Yes. Submit them as usual. If you have questions, please contact your Contract Management Specialist.
- Will MORs or inspections continue during a shutdown? Yes. MORs will continue as scheduled with your Relationship Manager. Contact your Navigate RM with questions.
- Per HUD’s 2025 Contingency Plan:
- REAC/NSPIRE inspections already awarded and funded will continue.
- Inspections procured by mortgagees will also continue. Refer to HUD’s Contingency Plan, page 14, for details.
- How should I talk to residents about the shutdown? Reassure them that they are only responsible for paying their portion of the rent.
You can view HUD’s Contingency Plan below.
