Could proposed federal changes push thousands of Minnesotans back into homelessness?

Millions of dollars for homeless services in Minnesota are up in the air after the Trump  administration proposed changing the rules for housing programs that helped people get off the streets.   The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development plans to shift money away from long-term housing programs that provide services.   Instead, more federal money would go toward breaking up homeless encampments and to short-term shelters with work requirements and mandatory addiction treatment.  Critics warn this could force thousands of Minnesotans back into living in their cars, onto friends’ couches or onto the streets — including people who have relied on supportive housing for years.On Dec. 19. a judge temporarily halted the administration’s proposals, creating more uncertainty. MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with her guests about what helps people move into permanent homes and how federal policy shifts could affect Minnesotans. Guests: Chris LaTondresse is the president and CEO of Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative, one of Minnesota's largest nonprofit providers of supportive housing for families, single adults and youth who have experienced homelessness. He previously served as a Hennepin County Commissioner and chaired the Hennepin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority. LeAnn Littlewolf is the executive director of the American Indian Community Housing Organization (AICHO) in Duluth. The nonprofit organization runs Gimaajii Mino-Bimaadizimin, a community center with supportive housing for women and children. She is a member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and previously worked with the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless.