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Montgomery County Community Action Agency 1401 Rockville Pike, 3rd Floor Rockville, MD 20852 240-777-1697 (main)
Community Action Partner Spotlight: End of 2022 News
 As Montgomery County’s Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) is halfway through, contract monitors have begun program and monitoring visits. As Community Action continues to deliver services in the new hybrid way, our monitors work with contract partners to arrange virtual or in- person visits and/or reviews for contracts. Staff are particularly focused on reviews of contracts that started early in the fiscal year (July and August) to meet contract deadlines.
FY23 budget modifications for contract terms that started in July or August are due to contract monitors by late March. Monitors in turn need to review and submit budget modifications to their colleagues in the DHHS Contract Management Team by April 15. For budget modification due dates for all off-cycle contracts—with terms other than July to June—contact your contract monitor.
The County Executive hosted a series of Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) budget forums, concluding on December 14 in Bethesda. The County Executive’s FY24 budget will be released on March 15, 2023. The County Council reviews, amends, and releases the final budget in May.
The Montgomery County Office of Grants Management (OGM) has its portal up and running. It will be soliciting feedback from the nonprofit community on how Community Grants process should be reformed in FY24. Organizations should monitor the OGM grants application platform at https://mcmdgrants.smapply.org for opportunities to provide this feedback and to apply for other County grants opportunities. Feedback will be used to shape the FY24 Community Grants process and timeline.
As the calendar year 2022 comes to an end, Community Action’s contract monitors would like to thank you for the work you have done on behalf of Montgomery County. We wish you happy holidays and the very best for the new year!
VITA's Monthly Tax Tips: For Newlyweds
 Have you changed your name through marriage? Names on tax returns must match what the Social Security Administration has on file.
Address change? Both the IRS and the U.S. Postal Service need to know.
Getting married also impacts tax withholding from paychecks, and decisions need to be made regarding whether you want to file joint or separate tax returns.
And remember, even if you wed on December 31, in the eyes of the IRS, your status is "married" for the whole year.
For links and information that address all of the above, go to: Don’t let a tax mistake ruin newlywed bliss, IRS Tax Tip 2022-188.
Green Tips: My Green Montgomery & SharePower Solar Co-op!
 My Green Montgomery shares tips from the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) that can save you money! “For every degree, multiply by three,” says Larissa Johnson, the Residential Energy Program Manager, in the Energy, Climate, & Compliance Division of the DEP. For every degree you set your thermostat above 68 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter, and below 78 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer, you increase your heating and cooling bill by three percent. So, if you set your heat to 71 degrees, that’s a nine percent increase in your heating bill!
Explore My Green Montgomery for Projects and Incentives that cover everything from transit and recycling to renewable energy and gardening, reducing food waste, and choosing cleaning products and appliances that are less harmful to the Earth.
Have you heard about the SharePower solar co-op at Paddington Square? All Maryland Pepco customers can sign up to switch the source of their electricity to solar, without needing to add panels to their own roof.
Income-qualified Montgomery County residents can now register to save up to $400 a year on their Pepco bills through SharePower Community Solar at Paddington Square. Community solar subscriptions allow you to receive the benefits of solar energy without the hassle of installing solar panels on your roof. SharePower subscriptions leverage solar electricity generated in your community to decrease local fossil fuel emissions, create local clean energy jobs, and make clean energy affordable. To help build a greener Maryland, sign up today by calling (202) 505-3051! Learn more at SharePower.Groundswell.org or click on the attached flier, in Spanish and English.
Resources:
NEW: The Montgomery County Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center has a new Get Help page.
NEW: How to protect SNAP benefits from fraud: Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Fraud - Maryland Department of Human Services
NEW: How to lower your energy costs and much more! My Green Montgomery
NEW: Winter Storm Information Portal
WorkSource Montgomery Community Assets Map
Food assistance resources and programs (in English, Spanish, Amharic, French, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean)
Food Assistance Resource Map - https://mocofoodcouncil.org/map/
Diaper distribution
The Montgomery County Family Justice Center helps people in domestic violence, child abuse, and elder abuse situations.
Montgomery County Family Violence Awareness and Prevention
The Montgomery County Crisis Center specializes in serving people with behavioral health (mental health) crises. Information about the Crisis Center and other crisis intervention services:
Ride-On Reimagined is campaign to assess the bus network for significant changes. Go to the link to see opportunities for Public Forums and Community Engagement events. Ride On Reimagined - Montgomery County Division of Transit Services (montgomerycountymd.gov).
Montgomery County flooding website: Information on frequently flooded roads, steps residents can take to prepare for potential flooding, and the availability of flood insurance to all properties in the County.
Alert Montgomery: Sign up to receive accurate and immediate notifications about emergencies that may affect your home, workplace, child's school, or any other Montgomery County locations. Alerts can be sent via text, email, or voice message.
OEMHS website: Tips on preparing for severe storms.
Monkeypox information from Montgomery County, including vaccine access, frequently asked questions, and more.
Montgomery County COVID-19 information: Vaccines for adults and children ages six months and up.
Montgomery County COVID-19 hotline in English: 240-777-1755, and in Spanish: 301-270-8432.
CASHBACK – VITA Services and tax credit information
Free Financial Counseling: Financial Empowerment Center at WorkSource Montgomery.
Rent Relief Round 4: Frequently Asked Questions in English, Korean, Spanish, French, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Amharic.
Maryland Homeowner Assistance Fund: Assistance with mortgage payments or other housing costs due to COVID-19 related financial hardships. MHAF application assistance: Latino Economic Development Corporation and Housing Initiatives Partnership.
Ban the Box, or the Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards Law, assists in the successful reintegration of people with criminal records into the workforce by removing barriers to employment and housing. Find out more from the Montgomery County Office of Human Rights.
CFPB Your Money, Your Goals
CFPB Financial Education Tools in Multiple Languages
Protecting Immigrant Families: Immigrant eligibility for public programs.
Unemployment Insurance
Office of Home Energy Programs: Utilities assistance.
WSSC water & sewer bill assistance in English and Spanish. Call Center Advisors: 301-206-4001.
Water bill assistance flier in English and Spanish
Asian American Health Initiative
Latino Health Initiative
African American Health Program
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