With the federal government shutdown, many District 17 constituents may face financial stress, loss of income, and increased need for community support. Below is a curated list of the most relevant programs and resources to share with constituents.
You can find all State resources here: response.maryland.gov/federalpublicservants/shutdown
1. Financial and Employment Support
- Federal Workers Loan – $700 no-interest loan, repayable 45 days after the shutdown ends. Eligible applicants must be Maryland residents, federal employees, and designated as “excepted.”
Application portal: mdol.submittable.com/submit
More info: labor.maryland.gov/federalworkers - Unemployment Insurance
- Federal Civilian Employees: May apply for Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE).
- Federal Contracting Firm Employees: May apply for standard Unemployment Insurance (UI).
Details: labor.maryland.gov/federalworkers
- Credit Union Assistance – Credit unions across Maryland are offering emergency loans and financial relief for members affected by the shutdown.
Updates: Maryland DC Credit Union Association
2. Food Assistance
- SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
Application portal: mydhrbenefits.dhr.state.md.us - Montgomery County Food Resources – Comprehensive list of food pantries, distribution sites, delivery services, and multilingual resources.
Details: https://montgomerycountymd.gov/ofsr/food/index.html
3. Housing and Emergency Shelter
- Emergency Eviction Prevention and Shelter Services – Available through Montgomery County Health and Human Services.
Info: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/HHS-Program/Program.aspx?id=SNHS/SNHSEMEvictionPrevent-p745.html - Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC) – Rental assistance, Housing Choice Voucher Program, and mortgage support.
Details: hocmc.org - Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless – Services for unhoused individuals.
Details: mcch.net
4. Utilities and Essential Services
- PEPCO Customer Relief Program – Up to $300 in bill relief, flexible payment plans, late payment charge waivers, and streamlined support for federal workers.
Details: pepco.com/BillSupport
Customer Care: 202-833-7500 - WSSC Water – Flexible payment programs for affected customers.
Info: wsscwater.com
5. Additional Resources
- WorkSource Montgomery and American Job Centers – Job readiness, workforce development, and training opportunities.
Details: worksourcemontgomery.com - Maryland Benefits Portal – Centralized access to food, housing, healthcare, childcare, and other services.
Portal: mydhrbenefits.dhr.state.md.us