Dozens of Democrats have signed a letter to Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson Benjamin (Ben) Solomon CarsonBen Carson notes reveal he's 'not happy' with White House official: report Trump pledges to make Juneteenth a federal holiday, designate KKK a terrorist group in pitch to Black voters State AGs condemn HUD rule allowing shelters to serve people on basis of biological sex MORE urging him to reinstate provisions aimed at helping LGBT people as part of the criteria for a competition to receive grants from the agency.

In 2018, the agency included "Addressing the Needs of LGBT Individuals" as one factor groups seeking a grant from the agency were scored on when seeking the funding. That factor was not included in the 2019 scoring, according to competition guidelines.

The 61 lawmakers who signed the letter dated Thursday also questioned why using a Housing First approach, which prioritizing putting the homeless in permanent housing, was also not listed as something that would be scored in the guidelines.

ADVERTISEMENT

"We are alarmed by changes made to the ... competition which undermine the successful approach of Housing First and HUD’s historic commitment to effectively serve transgender people experiencing homelessness," the letter from Democrats states.

"These changes invite discrimination and could result in trans people being denied access to critical homeless services, forcing them to remain on the street and putting them at further risk of physical violence and abuse."

The Hill has reached out to HUD for comment.

The letter was spearheaded by Reps. Jennifer Wexton Jennifer Lynn WextonHouse advances bill aimed at imports tied to Uyghur forced labor This week: Supreme Court fight over Ginsburg's seat upends Congress's agenda The Hill's Campaign Report: Trump's rally risk | Biden ramps up legal team | Biden hits Trump over climate policy MORE (D-Va.) and Ayanna Pressley Ayanna PressleyEnding the Hyde Amendment is no longer on the backburner Fauci, Black Lives Matter founders included on Time's 100 Most Influential People list Trump attacks Omar for criticizing US: 'How did you do where you came from?' MORE (D-Mass.), according to a statement from Pressley's office.

The grant competition opened in July and ends Sept. 30.