SEATTLE — Housing officials across western Washington received concerning notices this week as the Trump administration moves forward with plans to drastically cut federal funding for permanent housing programs, a move critics fear could push tens of thousands of people back into homelessness.

The cuts target the Continuum of Care program, a 31-year-old federal initiative designed to help people who are chronically homeless or disabled. Under the new policy, funding for permanent housing will drop from 87% to 30% nationwide.

"Now that the government shutdown is over, we're seeing the administration move forward with dramatic changes that are going to have profound impacts," said Josh Brown, executive director of the Puget Sound Regional Council.

The council believes permanent housing so

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