Cuyahoga County’s Healthy Human Service and Aging Committee voted Dec. 3 to advance a contract with United Way of Greater Cleveland to oversee emergency food purchases and fiscal administration for hunger centers across the county. Resolution R20250341 would authorize up to $2,034,158 for the period Jan. 1, 2026 through Dec. 31, 2027.

Marcos Cortez, representing the Department of Health and Human Services, said United Way will act as fiscal agent to distribute, monitor and oversee county funds to more than 50 affiliated hunger centers. ‘‘United Way of Greater Cleveland serves as the fiscal agent to perform administrative duties related to the distribution, monitoring, and oversight of the Cuyahoga County funds,’’ Cortez said.

Julie Johnson of the Hunger Network reported demand has risen since the temporary SNAP benefits hold and the government shutdown earlier this year. She corrected an earlier count presented at the meeting, saying the network now includes 51 hunger centers (with an additional 19 hot meal sites) and noted a funding gap created when FEMA reimbursements did not materialize: ‘‘It was about a $110,000 (gap)…council allocated us an $80,000 bridge funding, but that funding will run out in March 2026,’’ Johnson said.

Vontrece Jones of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank said the network had a surge in requests and reported a record distribution of 6,400,000 pounds of food in November and nearly a 40% increase in new households accessing services year over year. ‘‘We’ve also seen nearly a 40% increase in the number of new households that had to access these services,’’ Jones said.

Council members asked how allocations to individual hunger centers are determined. Hunger Network representatives said a matrix based primarily on households and individuals served and an assessment of external resources informs monthly allocations; the Food Bank provides purchasing power, product and occasional forgiveness of shortfalls.

Councilmember Conwell moved R20250341 to the full council under second-reading suspension; Castleberry seconded and the committee advanced the item by voice vote. The full Cuyahoga County Council will consider the contract next.