TRENTON, N.J. – The Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey is condemning President Donald Trump’s plan to deploy the National Guard in Washington, D.C. to forcibly remove homeless residents from public areas.
In a strongly worded statement, Staci Berger, the organization’s President and CEO, called the move a “dangerous and disgraceful escalation” that fails to address the root causes of homelessness.
“Not a Crime to Be Homeless”
“Deploying the National Guard to target people experiencing homelessness in our nation’s capital is a dangerous and disgraceful escalation. It is not a crime to be homeless,” Berger said.
She argued that the militarized approach will only deepen the trauma for people already living in crisis, without providing any path toward stability or permanent housing.
Criticism of Federal Policy Shifts
Berger also criticized the administration’s broader policy agenda, accusing the president of simultaneously cutting back critical federal programs designed to keep families housed.
“At the same time, the President is leading efforts to dismantle the federal safety net, slashing investments and resources that help families stay safe and stably housed,” she said. “Instead of criminalizing poverty, our leaders should be investing in proven solutions that ensure everyone has a safe place to call home.”
Advocates Call for Housing-Focused Solutions
The Network emphasized that homelessness is best addressed through affordable housing initiatives, supportive services, and targeted investments rather than punitive measures. Housing advocates nationwide have long argued that criminalizing homelessness — whether through police sweeps, encampment clearances, or militarized actions — fails to reduce the problem and often worsens it.
The D.C. National Guard deployment would mark one of the most aggressive federal interventions in homelessness in the city’s history, raising concerns among civil liberties and housing rights groups.
About the Housing and Community Development Network of NJ
The Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey is a statewide association representing more than 270 community development corporations, individuals, and partner organizations committed to expanding affordable housing, creating economic opportunities, and building strong, inclusive communities.
More information about the organization and its initiatives can be found at www.hcdnnj.org.
Berger concluded that lasting change will come only through investment, compassion, and policy reform — not force. “We should be helping people off the streets, not pushing them further into the shadows,” she said.
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