More than a third of mixed-status families who could lose federal rental help are in California

Topline:

The context: Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for federally funded programs such as Housing Choice Vouchers (also known as Section 8) or units in public housing projects. But citizens living with an undocumented spouse or parent have been allowed to receive such help. Nationwide, about 20,000 mixed-status families receive federal housing subsidies.

The change: The U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department released a long-awaited proposed rule change Thursday that would exclude mixed-status families from federal housing assistance. Researchers with UC Berkeley’s Terner Center for Housing Innovation note that Los Angeles is home to a disproportionate number of families who could be affected.

Why it matters: “If this rule were to go into effect, these families will just increase the number of folks that are facing housing insecurity or at risk of homelessness,” said Julie Aguilar, a Terner research analyst.

What local governments could do: In an analysis published Thursday, Terner researchers write that state and local governments could ease families through this transition by providing ongoing rental assistance, legal aid or one-time financial aid for moving costs of security deposits.