On December 2nd, WBEZ’s Sasha-Ann Simons interviewed Threshold CEO Mark Ishaug and Christine Haley, chief homelessness officer for the State of Illinois, about drastic cuts to federal funding for critical evidence-based housing programs. Beginning in January 2026, the Trump administration will implement a 70% reduction in funding for programs that offer permanent supportive housing for formerly homeless individuals with disabilities, mental illness, or substance abuse disorders. Ishaug and Haley explained that these cuts place 7,500-8,000 individuals in Illinois at risk of losing their housing, aggravating an existing housing crisis during the coldest months of the year. As Ishaug explained, “This takes us from a crisis to a catastrophe.”