Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today announced $500,000 in CARES Act funding will be awarded to Howard County residents in need of energy assistance through the Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC).
Nearly 1,500 families who have applied to the CAC for electric or oil energy assistance will benefit from this grant. Each year, CAC provides over $2.5 million in financial assistance to residents who are deemed eligible. This grant is in addition to the $1.35 million granted to CAC earlier this year.
From the press release:
“This virus has devastated many households, who have lost income and are trying to make ends meet to keep the heat on, feed their families, and pay their rent,” said Ball. “This $500,000 will support nearly 1,500 families in Howard County that need the extra support right now. We are laser-focused on expending all of our CARES funding by our deadline at the end of this month and ensuring that our most vulnerable residents do not fall through the cracks this winter as we continue to combat COVID-19 in our community.”
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“As 2020 comes to an end, and we look back and ask ourselves about the takeaways and lessons learned, what comes to my mind is that in Howard County we have a government that cares, listens, and responds to the needs of its people,” said Bita Dayoff, President of CAC. “The hardship of paying bills is widespread in our community, from low-income households all the way to upper-middle-class families. Every day at CAC, we receive calls from families who are in tears, concerned about not being able to pay their bills, and worried that their electricity will be shut off just as the temperatures are getting cold. This relief fund will help families keep their lights on and stay warm over the winter months.”
Stay tuned to Conduit Street for the latest.
