King County officials have joined a coalition of jurisdictions in filing a legal challenge against the Trump Administration over what they describe as unlawful and unreasonable restrictions on federal homelessness funding.
At the center of the lawsuit is the federal Continuum of Care (CoC) grant program, a major source of funding for permanent supportive housing and related services for people experiencing homelessness. The lawsuit argues that the new restrictions imposed on the program limit local governments’ ability to effectively address homelessness and threaten critical housing and support services.
King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay highlighted that the legal challenge is rooted in opposition to these funding limitations, emphasizing that the restrictions undermine long-standing efforts to stabilize vulnerable populations through housing and wraparound services.
County leaders say the funding plays a vital role in maintaining shelters, supportive housing programs, and critical services for individuals struggling with housing instability. They argue that changes imposed at the federal level jeopardize thousands of people who rely on these programs for long-term stability.
The lawsuit seeks to block enforcement of the restrictions and preserve local control over how homelessness response funds are distributed.