E-Newsletter: March 2025

Montgomery County
Community Action Agency

Community Action Board Advocates for Key Priorities

The Community Action Board (CAB) has been engaged in extensive advocacy throughout the Maryland Legislative Session, submitting testimony on a wide range of bills that aim to address the needs of economically disadvantaged and marginalized community members. The Board’s Advocacy Committee meets weekly to review bills and assign bills to volunteers who take the lead on drafting testimony. This year, the Board submitted testimony on the following bills:

• SB666 - Maryland Community Action Agencies – Funding
• HB708/SB668 - Earned Income Tax Credit - Individuals Without Qualifying Children – Eligibility
• HB709/SB651 - Landlord and Tenant - Residential Leases and Holdover Tenancies - Local Good Cause Termination (Good Cause Eviction)
• HB555 - Early Childhood Education - Child Care Scholarship Program – Eligibility
• HB1431/SB977 - State and Local Agencies - Enforcement of Federal Immigration Law - Restrictions on Access to Information (Maryland Data Privacy Act)
• HB1014/SB859 - Fair Share for Maryland Act of 2025
• HB1006/SB828 - Immigration Enforcement - Sensitive Locations - Guidelines and Policies (Protecting Sensitive Locations Act)

On March 4th, Board Chair Dr. Jeffery Johnson testified before the County Council on behalf of the CAB in support of County Council Bill 6-25: Consumer Protection - Defective Tenancies as Deceptive Trade Practices. This bill would allow renters to seek remedies for defective rental properties under consumer protection law. The CAB also submitted testimony in support of County Council Bill 5-25: Demolition Tax for Affordable Housing Production, which would require an owner to pay an excise tax prior to receiving a permit to demolish their home. Revenue raised by this tax would support affordable housing construction in the County.

Also in March, Dr. Johnson and CAB member Kemmesha Thomas participated in the National Community Action Foundation’s conference in Washington, D.C. This conference focuses on advocacy at the federal level for key priorities impacting Community Action Agencies across the country. Dr. Johnson and Ms. Thomas joined the Maryland Community Action Partnership for meetings with members of our Congressional Delegation, advocating for national priorities. 

Pictured above, left to right, are Ms. Thomas, Congressman Jamie Raskin, and Dr. Johnson.

Community Advocacy Institute Participants Share Original Testimonies

March is a busy month for participants in the Community Action Board’s Community Advocacy Institute (CAI), with two testimony practice sessions held in-person at the County Council Office Building. For both sessions, participants had the opportunity to read their original testimonies before a panel of board members, volunteers, CAI Ambassadors, and staff. Each participant received feedback on their testimony from the panelists.

Participants’ testimonies addressed important community issues, including food security, housing, immigration legal services, and services for children with special needs. At left, Yamuna Perera practices her testimony.

Up next, participants will complete their advocacy projects, testifying before County Council or the Board of Education, or submitting written testimonies.

Head Start: Free Pre-kindergarten for Low-income Families Who Qualify

Registration for Prekindergarten/Head Start for Fall 2025 began March 1, 2025. For children who will be four (4) years old on or before September 1, 2025, in low-income families who qualify, registration for the 2025 – 2026 school year is open for free pre-kindergarten and Head Start programs in the public schools. Until May 1, families can also register for the current school year.

Go to www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org and search “Head Start” for more details. There are also a few spaces still available for this year!

Fliers direct families to one link if they are new to MCPS, and another if they already have a child attending MCPS. Fliers in English, Spanish, French, Amharic, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, and Vietnamese are posted on: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/HHS-Program/OCA/CommunityAction/HeadStart.html.

Applications are accepted:

• Online via www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org
• In-person at Rocking Horse Road Center, 4910 Macon Road, Rockville, Maryland, 20852, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., and
• On Saturday, April 26, registration will be open from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. in-person at Rocking Horse Road Center.

The office phone number is 240-740-4530. List of the documents needed to complete a Head Start application.

Do you have questions about Head Start? Check out the Common Questions.

Save the Date! Head Start Party in the Park

Save the Date! In collaboration with the Housing Opportunities Commission's Fatherhood Initiative, the annual Head Start Party in the Park is returning to Wheaton Regional Park on June 7th. Mark your calendars for a wealth of information about County services, registration for Head Start and Pre-kindergarten, and a lot of family fun!

Spotlight on Community Action Partners: Maryland Vietnamese Mutual Association

Earlier this month, Community Action visited the Senior Transportation program of the Maryland Vietnamese Mutual Association (MVMA) at the Good Hope Community Center in Silver Spring. Seniors are transported to the center twice a week to exercise and socialize. Above, Ms. Thao Bui, Executive Director of the MVMA, and Ms. Aizat Oladapo, Program Manager at Community Action, sit with seniors who are playing Bingo.

Ms. Bui, pictured below, has formally announced a transition in the Executive Director position at MVMA. Effective April 1, 2025, Mr. Robert (Bob) Riley will assume the role of Executive Director, succeeding Ms. Bui as she retires. She is confident Mr. Robert Riley will lead the MVMA with dedication and vision, drawing on his experience working with the Vietnamese community.

Community Action wishes Ms. Bui well in her retirement and welcomes Mr. Riley to the Community Action nonprofit partner network.

For information on contract opportunities with the Department of Health and Human Services, go to: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/HHS/DoingBuswDHHS.html.

Information on Montgomery County grant opportunities are posted by the Office of Grants Management: https://montgomerycountymd.gov/ogm/.

Tax Tip: Busting Federal Tax Refund Myths

The following is an excerpt from IRS Tax Tip 2025-18. Waiting for a federal tax refund? The best way to check the status of a refund is through the Where's My Refund? tool, the IRS2Go app, or by signing in to the taxpayer’s IRS Online Account.­ Many people mistakenly think there are better ways to get their refund status. Here are some of the myths about tax refunds. Myth: Calling the IRS, a tax software provider or a tax professional will provide a more accurate refund date.      Fact: There is no need to call the IRS unless Where's My Refund? says to do so. Myth: Where's My Refund? must be wrong because there's no deposit date yet.  Fact: Where's My Refund? ‎on both IRS.gov and the IRS2Go mobile app are updated once a day, usually at night. Even though the IRS issues most refunds within 21 days, it's possible a refund may take longer. Taxpayers should also consider the time it takes for the banks to post the refund to their account. People waiting for a refund in the mail should plan for the time it takes a check to arrive. If the IRS needs more information to process a tax return, the agency will contact the taxpayer by mail. Myth: Where's My Refund? must be wrong because the refund amount is less than expected. Fact: There are several factors that could cause a tax refund to be less than expected. The IRS will mail the taxpayer a letter of explanation if any adjustments are made. Some taxpayers may also receive a letter from the Department of Treasury's Bureau of the Fiscal Service if their refund was reduced to offset certain financial obligations. Before calling, check Where's My Refund or wait for the letter to understand why the change was made. The letter will also tell the taxpayers know how to respond, if they need to. Myth: Getting a refund this year means there's no need to adjust withholding for 2025.              Fact: To help avoid a surprise next year, taxpayers should make changes now to prepare for next year. One way to do this is to adjust their tax withholding with their employer. The IRS Tax Withholding Estimator tool can help taxpayers determine if their employer is withholding the right amount. Find out more myths and facts in the full Tax Tip 2025-18.

Montgomery County 
Community Action Agency
1401 Rockville Pike, 3rd Floor
Rockville, MD 20852
Phone: 240-777-1697

• Website
• Facebook
• Contact 

Updates from TESS 

The Takoma-East Silver Spring (TESS) Community Action Center serves Montgomery County residents from 8703 Flower Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20901, in the Long Branch area of Silver Spring and Takoma Park. On-site services include:

• Walk-in Pro Bono Legal Advice Clinic by the Montgomery County Maryland Bar Foundation on the 1^st & 3^rd Wednesdays, registration 6 - 6:30 p.m.
• Standby Guardianship services. Call TESS, 240-773-8260, for an appointment or visit www.standbyguardian.org

Standby Guardianship is a way for parents and guardians to designate a temporary guardian for their children in emergency situations. This designation allows for children to stay with someone they know and trust in the interim until a formal court hearing can be held. 

TESS will soon resume the Senior Social program, supporting neighborhood seniors with fun activities, support, and helpful services and information. 

Last but not least, TESS and partners at IMPACT Silver Spring are planning fun new activities. Look for updates in the next newsletter!

For more information on TESS services and hours, please see this flier.

Green Tip: Flood Preparedness Matters

An excerpt from Montgomery County Climate News:

This month’s “Climate Smart” action is to get flood protection—a crucial step as climate change is intensifying flooding in our communities. With more frequent and intense rainfall, inland flooding is expected to rise by 50% in Maryland by 2050 (source: UMD Extension).
So, how can you become flood smart? Start by exploring the County’s flood preparedness resources, which outline simple steps to protect your home, family, pets, and valuables. Examples of tips include:

• Store important documents and valuables in a waterproof container
• Never drive through flooded roads, and
• Consider flood insurance for financial security.

Coming Soon: The Montgomery County Energy Summit will be held on April 8 – 9 at the Silver Spring Civic Center.
https://mcenergysummit.org/register/

Celebrating Women's History Month

Community Action recognizes the 2025 Women Making History honored by the Montgomery County Commission for Women and Montgomery Women. This year's honorees include: Lavontte Chatmon of Court Watch Montgomery, Rakhi De of Kiddie Academy, Anne Herbster of the Village Support Network, Nancy Stoner of the Potomac Riverkeeper Network, and Community Advocacy Institute alumnus Samira Mohammad Hussein.

Please read about all the achievements of this year's honorees and join Community Action in saluting their accomplishments. Congratulations to all honorees!

Resources

NEW: Resident Services guide for Housing Opportunities Commission customers.

UPDATED: Montgomery County's Resources for federal workers and United in Service and Support Online Informational Series. 

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 website, Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center, Montgomery County, MD.

WorkSource Montgomery’s Community Assets Map.

Help Is Within Reach:
For a mental health crisis and listening support, call 988.

The Montgomery County Crisis Center: Call in, walk in, mobile outreach, community referrals, and substance use assessment and referrals (240-777-4000).

311: Weekday assistance, 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., for health and human services, housing, transportation, and food assistance. Dial 311 from local phone numbers, or 240-777-0311.

Medical emergencies, fires, reporting crimes, disaster response, and life-saving situations: Call 911.

For non-emergencies, Montgomery County has a hate bias incident reporting tool. Or incidents can be called to 311 from local phone numbers, or 240-777-0311.

Maryland Office of the Attorney General's Hate Crimes Hotline: 1-866-481-8361 and online: https://nohomeforhate.md.gov/. Active incidents should be immediately reported to 911.

Health:

DHHS Mobile Health Clinic: 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.

Access HEARS, Inc.  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. 

DHHS testing for sexually transmitted infections in Silver Spring and Germantown.

Pregnant women who meet the other Medicaid enrollment requirements except for citizenship may be eligible for full Medicaid coverage. Contact the Healthy Babies: Pregnancy and Postpartum Care program of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Never Use Alone, Overdose Prevention Lifeline: 877-696-1996. Peer operators are available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. https://neverusealone.com/

Housing – Repairs, eviction prevention, evictions:

Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development  home repair loans for assistance with paying for radon abatement and other repairs.

Rebuilding Together Montgomery County: Repairs and modifications to homes for aging in place.

Landlord-Tenant Affairs - Evictions information from the 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 in Montgomery County.

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.

Standby Guardianship: https://www.peoples-law.org/standby-guardianship. Children’s guardianship protection, in case a parent/guardian is unable to care for their children.

The Montgomery County Family Justice Center helps people in domestic violence, child abuse, and elder abuse situations.

Montgomery County Family Violence Awareness and Prevention.

Food and Household items:

Department of Health and Human Services Food Resources website (available in English, Spanish, Amharic, French, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean).

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

Greater DC Area Diaper Bank Nursery Project provides strollers, car seats, and a cloth diaper service.

Diaper distribution at Montgomery County hubs and other partners.

Financial empowerment:

CASHBACK– VITA Services, tax credit information, and financial education resources.

Gaithersburg Financial Empowerment Center: http://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/fec. Phone: 240-454-5199.

WorkSource Montgomery locations in Wheaton, Germantown, and a Mobile Jobs Center.

Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection – A – Z Consumer Advice.

Montgomery County Commission for Women seminars on financial planning, intimate partner violence, separation and divorce, human trafficking, and more.

My Green Montgomery: How to lower your energy costs and much more!

Office of Home Energy Programs: Utilities assistance.

WSSC fliers in 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.

Ban the Box : The Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards Law assists in reintegration of people with criminal records into the workforce.

Unemployment Insurance.

The Community Action Agency is part of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Community Affairs.