Even as budgets are being slashed for government services at the local and state levels, indicators of need are skyrocketing. In Montgomery County, officials shared some startling new numbers during this week’s County Commission meeting.
On Tuesday, Montgomery County Commissioners authorized an additional $186,000 to help homeless shelters. Another $60,000 will go towards providing more home delivered meals to seniors. And the county’s Department of Job and Family Services has been flooded with requests.
“In the past six weeks, we've processed 8,663 more SNAP recipients and 9,343 more Medicaid recipients here in Montgomery County,” said Debbie Lieberman, one of the Montgomery County Commissioners.
She says many of the people who are applying have never used public services before.
The county also says they received over 2,000 applications for a special $1.2 million COVID-19 cash assistance fund. But the money ran out almost immediately.
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