Dear Friend,

I want to share the latest Council updates and news with you.

First, a vaccine update. We’re leading the nation in our vaccination rates -- over 98.9 percent of eligible Montgomery County residents (ages 12 and up) are vaccinated with at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and nearly 90 percent of eligible residents are fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Thanks to all our residents for doing their part to protect themselves, their loved ones and neighbors.

The Council continues working to make Montgomery County a more healthy, vibrant, and safe place for everyone who calls it home. We are committed to ensuring that our residents and businesses have the resources and support they need. If you or someone you know needs assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to my office.

If you haven’t already, please connect with me on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates and news.

As always, stay safe and stay in close touch.

Sincerely,

Ride On Buses Remain Free Through New Year

Last week, I proposed and the Council approved a resolution to continue to allow free fares on the County’s Ride On buses through Jan. 1, 2022. Without this resolution, we would have seen fares return to their pre-pandemic rates as of last Friday, with no forewarning to riders. Free fares on Ride On buses keep our County moving, are consistent with our climate and racial equity goals and eliminate the cost burden from our lowest-income residents who rely on public transportation to reach their jobs and conduct essential activities. On Tuesday, the Council introduced a resolution on FY22 transportation fees, charges and fares based on the Fare Equity Study the Council received last week. This resolution with updated rates would not go into effect until the fare holiday ends in Jan. 2022. A public hearing on these fares is scheduled for Oct. 19 at 1:30 p.m. Learn more here.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I joined the Montgomery County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (DVCC) on Monday to shine light on this important issue. Domestic violence is a huge problem every year, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, domestic violence has become a crisis within a pandemic -- exacerbated by financial stresses, increased isolation and limited opportunities for victims to get out and in touch with the support networks they needed to get out of danger. It is critical that we raise awareness about the prevalence, severity, and impacts of domestic and gender-based violence, and also continue the work to support survivors, hold abusers accountable, and pursue legislation to further these goals. It’s important to recommit ourselves to connecting with one another about the signs of abuse and ways to stop it, and to uplift survivor stories and provide necessary resources. 

If you or someone you love is a victim of domestic violence, please don’t hesitate to reach out for help. Contact the Family Justice Center for resources and services, including counseling, legal services and more. Or call the Montgomery County Crisis Center at (240)777-4000 for free crisis services 24 hours a day.

Rent Relief Distribution Update

On Tuesday, the Council received a briefing on COVID-19 Rental Assistance and Eviction Prevention. We heard from the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Housing and Community Affairs, the County Sheriff’s office and other offices on the COVID-19 Rent Relief Program expenditures and updates on outreach and assistance efforts to encourage and help residents apply for rent assistance. According to DHHS, the County has received 11,000 applications in this round of rental relief, processed 50 percent of the unique applications, and distributed more than $27 million in direct assistance with an average payment of $10,000. The remaining applications will be processed in the coming weeks. According to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department, there has not been a surge in evictions as anticipated. Compared to 938 evictions in FY19, there have been 254 evictions in FY21. If you missed the briefing, you can watch it here.

You can also still apply to receive rental assistance from Montgomery County. Learn more here.

Say Yes to the Test

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is asking all parents and guardians to consent for their children to receive free COVID-19 testing at their school. Testing is a critical component that will allow schools to stay open and keep our students and staff safe. 

Two types of tests are available and the one given to students depends on the situation.

•       Screening tests for students with no COVID-19 symptoms
•       Rapid tests for students with COVID-19 symptoms

Parents/guardians must consent for their children to participate in the COVID-19 screening and rapid tests. They only need to fill out one form to give their permission. The consent form is available in multiple languages and can be filled out online or schools can provide paper copies for families.

The weekly screening tests for a random sample of students with no symptoms can help limit the spread of COVID-19 These tests are especially important for younger students who are not yet eligible to be vaccinated. Learn more about what MCPS is doing and how everyone can do their part to stay safe. MCPS parents and guardians can fill out the consent form here.