As federal funding for food, housing and healhcare gets cut, a few affordable housing developers are stepping into the breach with innovative ways to overcome shortages.
Among the overarching themes of 2025 has been the dramatic federal rollback of funding aid for much-needed staples Americans depend on, among them housing, healthcare and food.
Alterations to eligibility, funding structures and work mandates are translating to cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or food stamps. The fiscal year 2026 budget proposal aims to slash housing funding and rental assistance programs such as Housing Choice Vouchers. In addition, changes to Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act and public health agencies stand to leave millions uninsured.
As the federal government steps away, some housing developers are stepping up. They are teaming with local governments, nonprofit organizations and private entities to do more than provide safe and affordable housing. They’re also helping their residents gain access to necessities like foods, basic healthcare and job training. They are proving that while housing is fundamental to quality of life, it can also be a stepping-stone to community revitalization and a potent mechanism to address structural inequality.
Social services
Among these developers is New York City-based Fairstead, a national real estate company whose 25,000 affordable housing units span across 28 states.
