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Mari Castaldi @maricastaldi.bsky.social · Aug 13

State and local policymakers should instead look to real solutions: endhomelessness.org/wp-content/u...

Mari Castaldi @maricastaldi.bsky.social · Aug 13

Attacking people for being unable to afford the rent or for experiencing a mental health condition is the wrong approach. Fines, tickets, detention centers do a lot of harm to people, and do not solve their housing crisis.

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Mari Castaldi @maricastaldi.bsky.social · Aug 13

We also see a lot of states rejecting the failed policy of ticketing and arresting unhoused people. Analysis of state-level bills criminalizing homelessness this past year by @homeless-law.bsky.social found that nearly 80% were voted down or tabled. housingnothandcuffs.org/wp-content/u...

housingnothandcuffs.org

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Mari Castaldi @maricastaldi.bsky.social · Aug 13

We do see that as the fed gov’t moves to strip people of housing and healthcare, some states are stepping up to help people with the lowest incomes afford the rent, which we know works to solve homelessness: www.cbpp.org/research/hou...

States Should Fund Rental Assistance as a Frontline Strategy to Address the Housing Affordability Crisis | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Key Findings35 states and D.C. use state dollars to fund rental assistance programs5 states created new rental assistance programs in their 2023-2024 legislative sessionsMost state rental assistance.....

www.cbpp.org

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Mari Castaldi @maricastaldi.bsky.social · Aug 13

Housing and healthcare are what we all need to be safe. Here’s what elected officials should be doing that could actually make our communities safer and address the urgent needs of unhoused people:

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Mari Castaldi @maricastaldi.bsky.social · Aug 13

Trump’s overreach in DC builds on his recent Executive Order which would call for state and local governments to engage in similar tactics of punishing and banishing our neighbors because they can’t afford housing: www.cbpp.org/research/fed...

Executive Order Calls on Federal Agencies to Abandon Effective Homelessness Solutions and Promote Fear and Punishment | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

July 24, 2025: In a nation as wealthy as ours, we can solve big problems like homelessness and ensure no one is forced to sleep outside, in their car, or in a shelter. And we can do it while respectin...

www.cbpp.org

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Mari Castaldi @maricastaldi.bsky.social · Aug 13

This week, Trump ordered the fed takeover of local police & mobilized the nat'l guard and ICE in DC, w/ threats of action toward many including unhoused ppl. This is an abuse of power and an escalation of cruel anti-homeless policies across the country: www.cbpp.org/research/hou...

State and Local Policymakers Should Advance Policies Prioritizing Stability and Dignity to Solve Homelessness | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Our communities are safer when each person has a stable place to call home. Policies that improve access to housing assistance together with robust, voluntary services have been shown to both prevent....

www.cbpp.org

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Reposted by Mari Castaldi

Jesse Rabinowitz @jesserbnwtz.bsky.social · Aug 10

The average rent for a one-bedroom in DC is over $2,300. That is why folks live outside. But Trump and the billionares are so out of touch that they don't see what most ppl do: housing costs too much, and when rents go up, so does homelessness.

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Reposted by Mari Castaldi

Peggy Bailey @peggybaileydc.bsky.social · Aug 8

States & localities are being responsive to people’s struggle to afford rent. These papers show the progress they are making and the example they are setting for the federal gov’t.

Solutions to homelessness & housing affordability exist and need larger scale investment.

Mari Castaldi @maricastaldi.bsky.social · Aug 8

Feeling down about the affordable housing crisis (among other things)? Here’s a bright spot – 2 new reports out today catalogue over 100 state-funded rental assistance programs across 35 states helping people afford housing: www.cbpp.org/blog/state-a...

State and Local Policymakers Should Invest in State-Funded Rental Assistance to Solve the Affordable Housing Crisis | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Everyone needs and should have a place they can call home. Yet housing is unaffordable for more people than ever in the United States, including most low-income renters. For people with the lowest...

www.cbpp.org

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Mari Castaldi @maricastaldi.bsky.social · Aug 8

We also provide insights for policymakers about how to design state rental assistance programs for maximal impact and to get us closer to a world where everyone can access an affordable home. www.cbpp.org/research/hou...

States Should Fund Rental Assistance as a Frontline Strategy to Address the Housing Affordability Crisis | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Key Findings35 states and D.C. use state dollars to fund rental assistance programs5 states created new rental assistance programs in their 2023-2024 legislative sessionsMost state rental assistance.....

www.cbpp.org

Mari Castaldi @maricastaldi.bsky.social · Aug 8

But states can fund rental assistance, too. We find that while state programs are smaller and more limited in scope, they play a key role in making more housing deeply affordable for people with the lowest incomes that would otherwise be left behind by other policies: www.cbpp.org/research/hou...

State and Local Policymakers Should Invest in Rental Assistance to Reduce Homelessness and Increase Economic Security | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Key FindingsRental assistance increases housing stability and reduces homelessnessState policymakers should fund rental assistance programs alongside increasing housing supply and expanding tenant...

www.cbpp.org

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Mari Castaldi @maricastaldi.bsky.social · Aug 8

Federal rental assistance programs like vouchers are incredibly impactful – for those who are actually able to access them. But because of severe federal underfunding, most people who need help affording housing can’t get it, and that could get worse with proposed cuts.

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Mari Castaldi @maricastaldi.bsky.social · Aug 8

Feeling down about the affordable housing crisis (among other things)? Here’s a bright spot – 2 new reports out today catalogue over 100 state-funded rental assistance programs across 35 states helping people afford housing: www.cbpp.org/blog/state-a...

State and Local Policymakers Should Invest in State-Funded Rental Assistance to Solve the Affordable Housing Crisis | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Everyone needs and should have a place they can call home. Yet housing is unaffordable for more people than ever in the United States, including most low-income renters. For people with the lowest...

www.cbpp.org

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Reposted by Mari Castaldi

Anna Bailey (she/her) @annakbailey.bsky.social · May 2

🧵We all want to live in communities where no one is forced to sleep outside, in a car, or in shelters. The President’s budget would force MORE people into #homelessness.

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Reposted by Mari Castaldi

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities @centeronbudget.bsky.social · May 2

We just released a statement from @sharonparrott.bsky.social on the partial details of Pres. Trump's 2026 budget plan released today, which breaks his campaign promises by proposing cuts that would most hurt people struggling at the margins of a weakening economy: www.cbpp.org/press/statem...

Trump’s Budget Plan Continues Agenda of Hurting Those He Pledged to Help | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

The Trump Administration’s partial budget plan released today is just its latest repudiation of the Trump campaign’s promises to help people struggling at the margins of the economy — an economy that ...

www.cbpp.org

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Mari Castaldi @maricastaldi.bsky.social · Mar 31

"Here’s what we did see ... ppl becoming more likely to lose touch with support services, ppl losing essential items they need to get into housing (birth certificates) or to survive the elements (tents) and ppl still stuck on the streets — sometimes in new locations." calmatters.org/housing/home...

'Look, there’s nowhere else to go': Inside California’s crackdown on homeless camps

Last year, California cities gained more power to ban homeless encampments. CalMatters dug into what that looks like in three cities.

calmatters.org

Mari Castaldi @maricastaldi.bsky.social · Mar 11

R proposals to shift the cost of core programs like SNAP and Medicaid to states would not only take away basic needs like food and medicine from millions of people but would also make it harder for states to fund other priorities like affordable housing and homelessness programs.

Katie Bergh @katiebergh.bsky.social · Mar 11

NEW: Some key Republicans may be planning to impose SNAP food benefit costs on states, forcing them to pay up or cut food assistance to low-income families. Here's why that would worsen hunger & hurt states' ability to meet the needs of their residents: www.cbpp.org/research/foo...

Imposing SNAP Food Benefit Costs on States Would Worsen Hunger, Hurt States’ Ability to Meet Residents’ Needs | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Requiring states to pay even a modest portion of SNAP benefits would radically change the program’s funding structure, abandoning the long-standing national commitment to provide low-income households...

www.cbpp.org

Mari Castaldi @maricastaldi.bsky.social · Feb 13

I ❤️policy nerds

Oklahoma Policy Institute @okpolicy.bsky.social · Feb 13

💖 This Valentine’s Day, OK Policy wanted to express our passion for state policy issues here at the intersection of love and advocacy. (We kid, because we care.) 💌 Join us in spreading the joy and awareness! #OKLeg #ValentinesDay2025 💘 💖 See them all at okpolicy.org/Valentines2025

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Mari Castaldi @maricastaldi.bsky.social · Feb 11

What a cool resource! Will definitely be digging in here.

Alliance for Housing Justice @aforhj.org · Feb 11

AHJ & @prrac.bsky.social have created the "Moving LIHTC Towards Social Housing: A Toolkit" as a guide for advocates & state officials to use relatively stable federal dollars to build & rehab deeply affordable housing.

A Polaroid-style image featuring the first page of a PDF file is prominently displayed, taped to the background. The PDF cover shows a photograph of older and modern apartment buildings with a water tower, with the title "Moving LIHTC Towards Social Housing: A Toolkit" in bold orange and blue text. Logos for the Alliance for Housing Justice and PRRAC (Poverty & Race Research Action Council) appear at the bottom, along with small white text in the corner that reads "Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC)."

The background features a photograph of red brick apartment buildings under a blue sky. Large, bold orange text in the top left reads "NEW TOOLKIT," while below, black serif text on a torn-paper background states "Putting federal affordable housing dollars to use for Social Housing." At the bottom of the Polaroid, black text reads "For advocates & state officials." In the bottom right corner, curved text with an arrow pointing downward says "more info."

Mari Castaldi @maricastaldi.bsky.social · Feb 6

My beloved trans family and friends and community: I see you, I love you, I fight with you and for you.

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Reposted by Mari Castaldi

Anna Bailey (she/her) @annakbailey.bsky.social · Feb 5

Housing is a basic human need. Policymakers should embrace evidence-based solutions to #homelessness. Instead, HUD Sec. Scott Turner rebuked proven strategies & refused to condemn inhumane, ineffective policies punishing #unhoused people w/ nowhere else to go during confirmation process.

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Mari Castaldi @maricastaldi.bsky.social · Jan 31

Federal cuts would devastate not only vital services but also state budgets. Many fed housing programs, like vouchers and CoC funds, mostly bypass state budgets & go straight to local agencies. But the fiscal impacts of more housing insecurity & homelessness will still be deeply felt by state govs.

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities @centeronbudget.bsky.social · Jan 30

Emerging Republican federal budget proposals could cut funding for essential services, forcing states to pay more or reduce health care, education, and food aid—harming millions and straining local budgets. www.cbpp.org/research/sta...

A pie chart showing that federal funds comprise about a third of states' annual spending.

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Mari Castaldi @maricastaldi.bsky.social · Jan 24

The critical federal resources we have may be at risk under the new Administration – so state leaders can also step up by advocating with Congress to protect and expand federal rental assistance program funding: www.cbpp.org/blog/rising-...

Rising Homelessness Highlights Need to Invest in Proven Solutions, Reject Policies That Worsen Homelessness and Housing Instability | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Homelessness has risen sharply since 2023, new data show. The research is clear: rental assistance promotes housing stability and is key to solving homelessness. Reducing, and ultimately solving,...

www.cbpp.org

Mari Castaldi @maricastaldi.bsky.social · Jan 24

Or in WA, where the proposed state budget hopes to build on state investments in operating funding to help make new affordable and supportive housing accessible to people with extremely low incomes and help more new housing projects pencil out. ofm.wa.gov/budget/state...

Gov. Inslee's proposed 2025-27 budgets

Budget and policy highlights Decisions behind the governor's budget proposal, highlighting major areas of change. Agency recommendation summaries The differences in funding and FTEs between each

ofm.wa.gov

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Mari Castaldi @maricastaldi.bsky.social · Jan 24

But a lot of state leaders are stepping up – like Governor Kotek in OR who proposed almost $300M in state funds to prevent homelessness and fund long-term rental assistance in the biennial budget: www.oregon.gov/gov/Media/Bu...

www.oregon.gov

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