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Montgomery County Community Action Agency 1401 Rockville Pike, Suite 320 Rockville, MD 20852 Phone: 240-777-1697
Updates on TESS Services
 The Takoma-East Silver Spring (TESS) Community Action Center, at 8703 Flower Avenue in Silver Spring, continues building repairs from a fire in a neighboring business. Staff members are working remotely and can assist residents via email, phone, or virtual platforms.
Please call 240-773-8260 for assistance and visit montgomerycountymd.gov/TESS for the latest information.
Those interested in legal services are encouraged to contact the Montgomery County Maryland Bar Foundation's pro bono program directly at 301-424-7651.
VITA Tax Tip: How to Spot Scams Targeting Disaster Donations
 In Tax Tip 2024-88, the Internal Revenue Service warns taxpayers to watch for scams claiming to collect donations for victims of disasters. IRS tips for safely donating to charities include:
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Verify whether the charity is legitimate. Independently confirm the charity's name, website and mailing address are accurate. Use the Tax Exempt Organization Search Tool to verify if an organization is a legitimate tax exempt charity.
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Be cautious. Never give numbers from a gift card or wire money—that’s a scam. After verifying the charity is real, it's safest to pay by credit card or check.
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Don't share too much information. Scammers are seeking both money and personal information. Guard your Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, personal identification numbers, or passwords.
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Don't give in to pressure. Scammers often pressure people into immediate payments, whereas legitimate charities are happy to receive a donation at any time.
For more information, including how to report a scam and how to claim deductions to legitimate charities, see the full Tax Tip 2024-88.
Green Tip: Gift Outside the Box
 The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection encourages people to "gift outside the box" for holidays. Gift ideas shared by the DEP include giving locally made items, event tickets--including events at local parks and libraries, and donating your time or other resources as a show of appreciation and community spirit.
Montgomery County Climate News.
Meet Community Action’s Staff
 Starting this month, Community Action is adding a feature to profile our dedicated staff. Our first volunteer is Marwan Abdelmoniem.
What is your role in the Community Action Agency, and how long have you worked here? As an Administrative Specialist for 10 years, my primary duty has been to support work in contract and grant management, and finance and budget management for Community Action Agency programs, including budgetary and fiscal management, monitoring, and oversight of the agency’s funding. Serving as the fiscal point of contact, I receive and provide feedback to assure programs operate within budget and revenue constraints, and compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.
What do you like most about your job? I am grateful to support our agency making positive impacts in Montgomery County. Our programs empower community advocates to champion their interests and rights; provide educational opportunities to pre-kindergarten children to prepare them for school and future success; and assist low-to-moderate income households in tax preparation and helps them achieve their financial objectives. The collaborative approach of our team, guided by the principle of "Community Needs First," enables us to leverage our diverse strengths for the benefit of those we serve.
In the community, where is your favorite place to be? My favorite place in the community is being part of DHHS where I can use my skills and cooperate with dedicated people to make Montgomery County a good place to be.
Resources:
NEW: Never Use Alone 877-696-1996, Overdose Prevention Lifeline. Toll-free national overdose prevention, detection, life-saving crisis response and medical intervention services for people who use drugs while alone. Peer operators are available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. No stigma. No judgment. Just love! https://neverusealone.com/
Help Is Within Reach:
For a mental health crisis and listening support, call 988.
The Montgomery County Crisis Center is available for call in, walk in, mobile outreach, community referrals, and substance use assessment and referrals (240-777-4000).
311 provides weekday assistance, 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., for health and human services, housing, transportation, and food assistance (311 for local numbers, or 240-777-0311).
For medical emergencies, fires, reporting crimes, disaster response, and life-saving situations, call 911.
Office of Community Affairs, Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services:
Past editions of Community Action’s monthly e-newsletter.
African American Health Program
Asian American Health Initiative
Latino Health Initiative
Resource Directories:
Get Help page, Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center, Montgomery County, MD.
WorkSource Montgomery’s Community Assets Map.
Health:
The DHHS Mobile Health Clinic travels around Montgomery County providing integrated medical, dental, behavioral health, and human services to underserved and vulnerable populations and communities. Residents of Montgomery County, with and without health insurance, are eligible for services.
The Maryland Office of the Attorney General's Hate Crimes Hotline: 1-866-481-8361 and online reporting tool: https://nohomeforhate.md.gov/. Active incidents should be immediately reported to 911.Mental health support resources, from the National Council for Mental Health Well-Being.
Access HEARS, Inc. distributes free over-the-counter hearing aids for County residents who are ages 60 (+) and have moderate to severe hearing loss and incomes below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level. Find out more about how to access free hearing aids.
DHHS testing for sexually transmitted infections in Silver Spring and Germantown.
Maternal and Infant Health: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/HHS/ProgramIndex/MaternalIndex.html.
Pregnant women who meet the other Medicaid enrollment requirements except for citizenship may be eligible for full Medicaid coverage, including those who are undocumented or on visas. Contact the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Housing – Repairs, eviction prevention, evictions:
For low-income households, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development has home repair loans that can assist with paying for radon abatement and other repairs.
Rebuilding Together Montgomery County – repairs, aging in place modifications to homes.
Landlord-Tenant Affairs, Department of Housing and Community Affairs.
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Evictions office: 240-777-7130
Montgomery County Renters Alliance – advocacy, education on tenants’ rights.
Limit on rent increases signed into Montgomery County law July 2024: Please see the link below for information, including how far back the law applies to rent increases, and which properties are exempt: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dhca/Tenants/RentStabilization.html.
Safety and Emergency Preparedness:
Sign up for Alert Montgomery notifications about emergencies in Montgomery County. Alerts can be sent via text, email, or voice message. Use above link or below QR code.
Four steps for Emergency Preparedness: 1) Stay informed. 2) Make a plan. 3) Make a kit. 4) Get involved. Check out the OEMHS website for emergency preparation guides, including special considerations for people with access and functional needs.
Montgomery County flooding website: Information on frequently flooded roads, steps residents can take to prepare for potential flooding, and the availability of Flood Insurance. The Maryland Insurance Administration also has a flood insurance information page.
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.
Food and Household items:
Montgomery County Food Council: Food Assistance Resource Map.
How to protect SNAP benefits from fraud: Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Fraud - Maryland Department of Human Services
Food assistance resources and programs (information available in English, Spanish, Amharic, French, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean).
Greater DC Area Diaper Bank : The Nursery Project provides strollers, car seats, and a cloth diaper service.
Diaper distribution at Montgomery County hubs and other partners.
WSSC has several programs to assist customers. All linked fliers are in both English and Spanish: QR codes to all WSSC assistance programs; Customer Assistance Program for water bill assistance; and a loan program for help with water or sewer pipe repairs or replacement (English and Spanish).
Financial empowerment:
CASHBACK– VITA Services, tax credit information, and financial education resources.
The Montgomery County Commission for Women holds seminars on financial planning, intimate partner violence, separation and divorce, addresses human trafficking, and more.
Affordable Connectivity Program – Approx. $30/month on Internet connections. Click on the fliers in English and Spanish or call 301-908-4510 or toll-free 1-866-206-8467.
My Green Montgomery: How to lower your energy costs and much more! https://mygreenmontgomery.org/projects/energy/
Office of Home Energy Programs: Utilities assistance.
Gaithersburg Financial Empowerment Center: http://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/fec. Phone: 240-454-5199.
WorkSource Montgomery: https://worksourcemontgomery.com/. Service locations in Wheaton and Germantown.
Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection – A – Z Consumer Advice.
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.
Protecting Immigrant Families: Immigrant eligibility for public programs.
Unemployment Insurance.
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