Did You Know? Services Available in the Community

By Melissa E. Ferguson

Greetings, neighbors! This new column is for sharing public services and information that may be of interest. Some of these announcements have been shared on the listserv (nfcca@groups.io), but not everyone joins the listserv and information is power. Please feel free to share information that may assist people you know.

Free rapid, at-home COVID-19 test kits and N95 masks are available to all Montgomery County residents at area libraries on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. County residents can receive two testing kits; each kit contains two tests. The Wheaton library is distributing the free kits starting at 5:00 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays, and at 3:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. For more information and a list of the other libraries that are participating, please visit: montgomerycomd.blogspot.com/2022/01/county-providing-rapid-at-home-covid-19.html.
Anyone who is struggling to keep up with mortgage payments or other housing costs due to COVID-19 related financial hardships should check out the Maryland Homeowner Assistance Fund (dhcd.maryland.gov/Residents/Pages/HomeownerAssistanceFund.aspx). Information is also available at 1.833.676.0119, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m., and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Housing counseling and legal services information is available at 1.877.462.7555.

There are two local organizations that are designated by the State of Maryland to help people apply for the Maryland Homeowner Assistance Fund:
1. Housing Initiative Partnership in Gaithersburg, hiphomes.org or 301.916.5946.
2. The Latino Economic Development Center, which has an office in Wheaton, www.ledcmetro.org or 1.877.966.LEDC (5332).
On another community note, you may recall that in August 2016 the residents of Flower Branch Apartments, in the Long Branch area of Silver Spring along Piney Branch Road, suffered a tragic explosion and fire in which eight people died. On 8 January 2022, the same apartment complex suffered from a fire that destroyed two apartments and damaged a dozen others, displacing 52 people. People who are interested in helping the displaced families purchase clothing, supplies, and obtain funds for transportation, can donate to Making Home Possible at mhpartners.org/helpflowerbranchfamilies2022.
In climate protection news, Montgomery County leaders are urging residents to use less road salt (sodium chloride) to treat sidewalks and driveways in icy conditions. The “Salt-Wise” campaign (MontgomeryCountyMD.gov/salt) encourages people to shovel snow and ice right away, use less salt or an alternative ice-melt, and sweep up salt after the ice melts to reuse it. The problem with using too much salt is that it corrodes concrete and masonry (brick or paving stones), gets stuck in dogs’ paws and harms wildlife, damages the roots of trees and lawns, and all that damage is before salt leaches into our streams, where it is extremely hard to remove. One way to use less salt is to dilute it in water before spreading it on sidewalks with a broom. And alternative ice-melt concoctions that are safer for pets are available at hardware stores.

Thanks for reading and sharing these announcements for the health, safety, and betterment of our community. Until next time, wishing you patience and kindness in these trying times.

[Melissa E. Ferguson is an expert in grants, contracts, and project management; nonprofit and government partnership; and equitable access to health care and social services. She has lived in North Four Corners since 2013 and Montgomery County since 1996. She is also a gardener and an aspiring novelist.] ■