Staff warn of federal grant freeze risk; committee hears program updates on norovirus, volunteer portal and food program

Mary Keating, a Community Services staff member, told the DuPage County Human Services Committee that federal guidance announced earlier in the week briefly froze access to federal funds the department administers and created short-term uncertainty for program work funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and related federal streams.

Keating said roughly 80% of the department’s budget is federally funded — “potentially up to $20,000,000,” as stated in the meeting — and described a timeline in which funds were frozen on Tuesday, a temporary restraining order affected the status of that freeze, HUD staff were later advised not to speak with local jurisdictions, and a subsequent reversal restored access to funds. Keating cautioned there remains uncertainty about some types of work, notably fair-housing activities and outreach to minority- and women-owned contracting businesses that local agencies are required to support. She said the department will continue work but noted that many agreements include clauses that cancel grants if federal funding does not arrive; staff therefore proceeded with some CSBG-funded agreements on the agenda because the agreements state the county is not ultimately liable if federal funds are not released.

Keating added that the federal continuing resolution for fiscal 2025 had not been finalized; the committee discussed that Congress would need to act before the continuing resolution expires in early March, which could affect federal funding availability.

Care-center health update: Anita (care-center staff) reported there were no COVID-19 cases in the building but three confirmed norovirus cases on the same unit. Staff quarantined that unit, increased resident and staff education on handwashing (noting alcohol-based sanitizers do not kill norovirus) and adopted more frequent cleaning of high-touch surfaces using bleach-based products.

Volunteer services and Giving DuPage: Taylor Endicott, the program manager for Giving DuPage (the county-operated volunteer center), told the committee her team reduced the volunteer-opportunity portal’s backlog from more than 900 out-of-date listings to fewer than 500 current opportunities and has begun renewed outreach. She said Giving DuPage will participate in a 24-hour fundraising day, “Giving DuPage Day,” on May 1; nonprofit registration is open Feb. 17–March 14. Endicott asked committee members to share the registration opportunity with local nonprofit partners.

Food program and ARPA funds: Committee members were told the Northern Illinois Food Bank will present to the committee on March 4 with an update on distribution and use of ARPA funds the county provided for a produce program. Staff noted current funding supporting distribution to food pantries expires at the end of June and that the county has approximately $1,000,000 budgeted for the food program in 2025; committee members will receive the food-bank presentation and then discuss future funding decisions.

Why it matters: Keating framed the federal freeze as an event that temporarily intruded on regular operations and emphasized that staff and the board sought to maintain payroll and program continuity while the legal status of the federal guidance was resolved. The norovirus update affects resident safety at the county care center. The volunteer-portal and food-bank items affect county nonprofit operations and the timing of local fundraising and program decisions.

No formal action was recorded on these items during the meeting; staff said it would notify the board if circumstances changed.