Council introduces $7.75M emergency package to aid residents amid federal funding disruptions

The Montgomery County Council on Nov. 4 introduced a $7.75 million supplemental package intended to help residents and nonprofit partners responding to federal SNAP changes and a federal funding disruption.

Council President Kate Stewart said the package targets urgent community needs: $3.5 million for food assistance to the Office of Food Systems Resilience, $2.25 million for community partner grants (two grant programs for nonprofits), $1 million for the SHARP short‑term housing resolution program, $500,000 for the MOCO Pride Center, and $500,000 for economic "move" grants to help residents and small businesses stay afloat.

Sponsors framed the introduction as a rapid response pending state and federal action. Councilmember Friedson and other members highlighted the package as both a financial lifeline for nonprofits and a signal of local resolve; several councilmembers signaled possible amendments and asked staff for expenditure details ahead of the Nov. 18 public hearing and action. The council will consider the resolution at a combined public‑hearing/action session scheduled for Nov. 18 at 1:30 p.m.

What the package does: it formally allocates funds across five priorities — food assistance, nonprofit capacity grants, housing stabilization, LGBTQ+ services, and move grants — to be administered through county departments and partner nonprofits. Sponsors said program design details and grant criteria would be refined with nonprofits and department staff during the two‑week review period.

Next steps: The Council will hold a public hearing and take action on Nov. 18. Department staff will return with implementation details and proposed allocations for committee and full‑council consideration.