Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Services Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Community action agencies warn rising need and shrinking per-household energy assistance
Summary
Eastern Shore community action agencies told the delegation that demand for energy assistance and homelessness help has grown while per-household energy benefit amounts have fallen, straining service capacity and raising concerns about vulnerable households.
Community action agencies serving Maryland’s Eastern Shore told the delegation on Jan. 31, 2025, that rising energy costs, growing homelessness and reductions in program benefit amounts are stretching agency capacity and increasing risk for vulnerable households.
Michelle Nichols, program director for Delmarva Community Services, told delegates agencies are seeing more homeless families and working households who cannot afford rent. She said senior-program funding reductions have forced local providers to seek private donations to restore days of service. "We know these are challenging times, and in particular for our low and moderate income individuals and families," Nichols said.
Tyrone Chase, executive director of Shore Up, said the agency serves tens of thousands of individuals across the Shore and that his organization is experiencing both higher caseloads and smaller per‑household energy payments. Chase said average energy assistance benefits have dropped from about $1,200 per household a few years ago to roughly $600 per household in recent allocations, while utility and bulk‑fuel costs have risen. "If the funding is cut ... we will see casualties in the household," Chase warned, outlining risks such as unsafe generator use or other dangerous coping measures.
Other agency leaders echoed housing and utility pain points and said federal and state aid that formerly filled gaps is less reliable. Marilyn Neal of Talbot County's Neighborhood Service Center said hotel and shelter placements for unsheltered residents depend on fragile local funding and strong county support; she said funding shortfalls disproportionately impact seniors and people with disabilities who have limited income and mobility.
Agency leaders asked the delegation to advocate for stable funding and to resist measures that would discourage agencies from contacting legislators about program shortfalls. Senator Mounts and other delegates reminded agencies they have the right to raise funding issues with elected officials.
Provenance: community action agencies’ remarks begin with Delmarva Community Services’ report and concluded with agency representatives’ requests for legislative advocacy and county support.
