A draft of rules outline Trump administration plans that could lead to some 4 million people losing federal housing assistance. 

Over 200,000 Washington residents receive federal rental aid – primarily seniors, families with children and people with disabilities. 

The draft plans were obtained by the news organization ProPublica and have not yet been formally proposed. But they include adding time limits on living in public housing and work requirements to receive the assistance. 

Rachael Myers, executive director of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance, said there’s no evidence showing that work requirements incentivize people to find jobs or result in more employment. 

“The problem isn’t that people who live in public housing don’t want to work or don’t work,” said Myers. “The problem is that rents are too high and incomes are too low, and people just can’t afford their housing – and time limits do nothing to address that.” 

Housing in Washington state costs 53% more than the national average, according to data from the Council for Community and Economic Research. The next steps for the Trump administration’s possible changes are uncertain. 

The draft rules include a proposal, previously attempted in the first Trump administration, to revoke housing assistance from entire families that are found to have one undocumented member. 

Myers emphasized that the rule was never finalized – due in part to public opposition. 

“I think it’s really, really important to know that this is, at this point, just a leaked draft,” said Myers, “and even if it becomes a proposal, there will still be a process.” 

In the meantime, Myers said it is helpful for lawmakers to hear stories from people about how housing assistance has supported them. 

On the state level, she said she expects lawmakers to consider new progressive revenue options in order to address Washington’s budget shortfall and support those who struggle to pay for housing. 

This story was originally published by Washington News Service, a bureau of Public News Service, a national newswire with a local focus with state-level, public interest news.