Council hears pleas from nonprofits and residents on seniors, respite and homelessness funding; approves homeless grant

Montgomery County Council heard a series of public testimonies Jan. 27 urging increased funding for senior nutrition, respite and home-care services and for nonprofit capacity-building, and approved a $1,346,171 state grant for Homeless Solutions.

Raissa Wells of Food and Friends told the council the organization delivered nearly 213,000 meals last year to more than 600 county residents and described medically tailored meal services that reduce hospital use among clients with serious illnesses. “Food and Friends supports the special appropriation to the operating budget for funding of the senior nutrition program,” she said.

Bridget Howe, executive director of nonprofit Montgomery, said the sector is “teetering on the edge” amid federal and state funding uncertainty and urged that program funding include an additional 15% to cover indirect costs so nonprofits can meet contract requirements. “Any expanded funding for programmatic expenses must include at a minimum an additional 15% to cover the indirect costs of doing business,” she said.

Linda Burgoski, speaking for the Commission on Aging, noted the senior nutrition program serves more than 10,500 people and supported proposed earmarks of $450,000 for senior nutrition and $250,000 for respite to help clear assessment backlogs for home-based supports.

Thomas Gibson, a resident at the Neville Street Emergency Shelter, described overstretched shelter staff and case-management caseloads that have increased from about eight to more than 30 per case manager; he urged funding to expand staffing and rapid rehousing supports.

Following testimony, Council Vice President Marilyn Balcom moved to approve supplemental appropriation 26-48 (Homeless Solutions grant, $1,346,171); Council member Sales seconded, and the council approved the motion by voice/hand-raise vote. The transcript does not record a roll-call tally.

Other items on the agenda included a public hearing on a special appropriation to DHHS for respite, senior nutrition and home-care services (no final vote recorded in this hearing) and a separate $100,000 proposal for the Office of Food Systems Resilience community gardens program. Speakers representing Meals on Wheels (Takoma Park), the Arc of Montgomery County and neighborhood groups also urged prompt action to protect vulnerable residents and sustain nonprofit capacity.

The council’s approval of the Homeless Solutions state grant removes a funding barrier for shelter and rapid rehousing services, while testimony on other appropriations will be part of subsequent committee and budget deliberations.