Mid-Term Election Results 

and Homeless People

November 5, 2026

By Adrienne Lauby, Executive Director, SAVS

What do the mid-term election results mean for homeless people?   This question will be best answered after the new Congress is seated in January but I'm happy and, today, I want to make predictions.

• Breathe: The worst-case scenarios won't come true.  Armed thugs won't be shooting homeless people in broad daylight or dropping homeless advocates from helicopters.  Congress can refuse to fund new anti-homeless enforcement costing oodles of money. The constant repeat of messages of stigma and hate from big stages will slow. 

              It's a big relief.  Just this.

• Federal:  Many Democrats, (the incumbents, the newly elected, the Progressives and the Moderates) understand that there is a housing crisis across the U.S. and many campaigned on being able to do something about it.  Most will focus on dropping regulations and fast-tracking new buildings. 
• Cheap Housing:  Some Democrats also understand that we need the Federal government to fund cheap -- low-low income -- housing.  Look for various ideas about how to do this.  It's expensive, so don't expect great changes unless the current Democratic majority wins again in two years and we get a supportive President.  It's something to build toward.  
• Housing:  Current House Speaker Jeffries declared that the newly elected Democratic majority ran and won on an "affordability" mandate, explicitly naming the national housing shortage, saying "tackling high housing costs should be a top priority for the new Congressional majority."
• Housing Not Handcuffs  This bill in the house will get more co-sponsors. Maybe can move into the Senate.  Trump will veto but....
• Keeping People Housed:  House Democrats have outlined a 100-day agenda that includes efforts to restore ACA (ObmaCare) subsidies and reverse Medicaid cuts planned for Jan. 1.  If they succeed, the flow of people into homelessness will be less than we fear.
• Cuts that Punish & Promote: The Trump administration has made major funding cuts in HUD programs that help homeless people.  I expect the new Congress to work hard to reverse them.  It's hard to say how successful they will be.  This is also true of Federal policies that punish organizations for working with homeless minorities or other "DEI" projects.  The same is true for Trump policies that promote harsh mandatory programs and forced addiction disorder treatment facilities.  There will be some Democratic push back but it may not be successful
• Housing (Builders & Realtors): Many incoming members are expected to align with existing efforts like the 43-member bipartisan Build America Caucus and the New Democrat Coalition's Housing Task Force, both of which actively advocate for cutting bureaucratic red tape to accelerate residential construction.  Candidates supported by the Realtors Political Action Committee won in at least 325 races.  For more details, see HousingWire, a commercial group serving The Housing Market. https://www.housingwire.com/articles/2026-midterms-housing-policy/    (create free subscription to read)
• Personalities and Profiles:  Ninety-seven renters were elected in the mid-term elections in races that spanned from school boards to the U.S. Senate.   
• Local and State: 
• FUNDING:  We should expect a loosening in attitude and finances.  Political leaders won't be saving as much money to back-fill funding for potential or planned Federal cuts to social services.  Maybe they will fund new or better ideas to help homeless people.  
• SWEEPS: Gov. Newsom has supported aggressive sweeps of people living on public property and I don't see a state, county of city legislator with the passion to fight for the right of everyone to use the common space. I don’t expect our current aggressive law enforcement to slow down.  Please tell me I'm wrong.
• BOARD OF SUPERVISORS: Joanna Paun gained a seat on the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors and Melanie Bagby is slightly ahead in a race for another seat.  Their supporters say, if both win, the Supervisors will have a progressive majority.  Let's write serious proposals on behalf of Sonoma County homeless people and bring them to the new board in January.
• BUTTERFLY SETTLEMENT: It’s more likely we can put the new procedures for protecting homeless people's property rights into practice  -- around the county, in Santa Rosa and across the state.  It will require ongoing effort, especially in Santa Rosa and Sonoma County.

• YOUR INFORMATION & THOUGHTS:   Put them here.  Tell all of us.

Yours for a non-fascist U.S.A.,  Adrienne

The Butterfly We Knew

 Nina Butterfly, Santa Rosa.