[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6581971,"mediaKeyId","3281587-3495b7e48d9b258d7da05eb1b375bc75","parentId",3281587,"title","Nonprofits and housing advocates urge Howard County Council to preserve Community Service Partnership and housing dollars in FY26 budget","audioSeconds",520,"startMs",524000,"endMs",3575,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3281587-3495b7e48d9b258d7da05eb1b375bc75&start=524&end=3","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3281587-3495b7e48d9b258d7da05eb1b375bc75/thumbnail_524000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6581971/Howard-County/Maryland/Nonprofits-and-housing-advocates-urge-Howard-County-Council-to-preserve-Community-Service-Partnership-and-housing-dollars-in-FY26-budget","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6581971-1df5ed0d5a54d6435af0917cc6eba5e3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771187428&Signature=FcUQHZE3aZWhYzDst9keYLfvRSYayGYxKxYHky7gUm93pJy-GyOeuoOp1si2gE7qgkW4~xrQgqKHwbEap-FHbd-bU3wRbl~BnU0WPTLhXwRfdz92HIMC8pQSrQkrB0zPQ~dPrI5PrHXMh1O4JkTEkEJF6pVkS0N5PMhzEMQRUTYf7iofdt12vZV9NNyJ0yrin-rj~r4-vv5F08TAeWvnfVzR2AhClbzg8S1ibkBZ6sE11ZWXn9hSzDuRkBMrG10MBKfq93uUGYYZYS6ujI0SIAZSdBTHCE-CG52SdNFodyqaKAZvCtRxvcl01kj9j1k6z~kJd1kagCLbIdP~xOS~mg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Howard","date","2025-05-12T00:00:00Z","article","Multiple nonprofit leaders and a housing coalition urged the Howard County Council during the FY26 operating budget public hearing to preserve or increase funding for Community Service Partnership (CSP) grants, the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) programs, and housing-related initiatives.

Representatives cited program outcomes and demand. Colleen West, executive director of the Howard County Arts Council, asked the council to support the executive’s proposed CSP allocation that she described as enabling 50–60 grants and serving hundreds of thousands of attendees. \"Last year, attendance at these programs, funded through these grants, was 341,000 people,\" West said, and she asked the council to support a requested operating grant and an $81,000 relocation grant tied to the arts council’s move to the county courthouse in FY26.

Housing and shelter advocates stressed rising need. Jen Broderick, executive director of Bridges to Housing Stability, said Bridges serves about 50 households per month and that the county has new demand after an increase in the point-in-time count. She supported funding for CSP, the Community Renewal Program, homeless services and the Housing Opportunities Trust Fund, and cited a need for about 7,500 affordable units in the county.

The Housing Affordability Coalition asked the council to back several housing allocations in the executive’s budget: $17.4 million for the Community Renewal Program, $14.3 million for CSP grants, and a proposed one-time $4.5 million to create a new non-congregate shelter. \"As the number of Howard County homeless unsheltered persons continues to rise, our community needs as many safe housing options for this population as possible,\" the coalition said through Jackie Eng.

Other nonprofit testimony: Aaron Shapiro of Patapsco Heritage Greenway asked the council to support $80,000 in CSP funding for his organization and listed recent stewardship and volunteer outcomes. Anne Hefner of Rebuilding Together Howard County described repairs to low-income homes and said the group completed 20 homes last year and that their clients’ average income is about $29,000 annually. Kiara D'Amore of the Community Ecology Institute, Jamie Fraser for Howard EcoWorks and others also asked the council to maintain proposed operating support.

What was not decided: The hearing recorded public testimony; no council votes or formal budget decisions were recorded in the transcript. Speakers repeatedly asked that CSP and housing-related line items remain in the final FY26 operating budget and noted that reductions would affect nonprofit capacity to serve vulnerable residents.

Next steps noted in the meeting context: The council scheduled additional capital budget work sessions and continues deliberations on the FY26 operating budget; the nonprofit speakers asked council members to preserve the cited allocations during those deliberations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Howard - Budget Public Hearing - Operating Budget 051225 - May 12, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Nonprofit executives and housing advocates told the Howard County Council that Community Service Partnership grants and housing-related funding are critical to services for low-income residents and urged the council to preserve those allocations in the FY26 operating budget.","taxTitle","Howard County, Maryland","taxId",13634,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6581975,"Howard County students urge council to fund 3-month menstrual-products pilot in public facilities",237,186000,423000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3281587-3495b7e48d9b258d7da05eb1b375bc75&start=186&end=423","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3281587-3495b7e48d9b258d7da05eb1b375bc75/thumbnail_186000.jpg","/articles/6581975/Howard-County/Maryland/Howard-County-students-urge-council-to-fund-3-month-menstrual-products-pilot-in-public-facilities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6581975-10905f29a83556cef1d605b0e3a78590/orig.mp4?Expires=1771187428&Signature=SR8NALi36Tf7JUH5ec4DhMDgrkUpMSptLUhKDMiYqKbbgEBu~dZU44PxRuAhxv9ezz3t76nWj36iv9a~yOqPFH4jYzXGTkTXxIXCnSTKEwJPuxN1EpZ-SJWPYscr270po0UlelqWVsbplz7jNSlC-ZKzERbCbpwJqGsTKaS0oCyRPLtEE2C-T75Pph~zi1mPNas9TX8oWGiZeeGAw0RpT0psPYRo6jVjM8qXYnM0TeXKRcAFwe3u9bV0oc55uyyfYLpVVkVqO5QdSGz8hG6L6M1fAirh3gXcsv7ZDX9UZGthOwIctc4Xz5zOx637kqAPM5zP946MAxyTg-bU~8LKaw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Students from Mount Hebron High School and other county high schools urged the Howard County Council on the final FY26 operating budget public hearing to add a pilot program providing free menstrual products at county libraries, community centers and athletic complexes.

At the public hearing, Isha Ande, a junior at Mount Hebron High School, told council members the clubs from multiple high schools have proposed a three-month pilot. \"When the cost for this program was calculated, our club found that this initiative would cost $4,964.84 for a 3 month pilot program and a 1 time fiscal year cost of $8,309.36 due to a 1 time purchase of menstrual dispensers,\" Ande said. She added an ongoing three-month cost after the capital purchase would be $4,459.06.

The students said they had raised some funds and received grant awards to help cover start-up costs. Ahana Roy, a sophomore at Mount Hebron, said the Maryland Youth Advisory Council awarded the group a $1,000 grant and that the club won $1,500 in a \"Big Ideas\" competition. \"We have been putting in a consistent effort over the past few months,\" Roy said.

Why it matters: speakers framed the proposal as a low-cost way to protect health, school attendance and dignity. Ande said some women have resorted to toilet paper or lacked access in shelters, and that access to products can be the difference between attending work or school and staying home.

Public testimony and cost details: Testifiers asked the council to consider the pilot during the operating budget review. Ande and Roy said the three-month pilot and dispenser purchase together represent a small share of the county's overall budget; the students calculated the fiscal-year cost as a fraction of the county’s $1.219 billion operating budget as presented by the county executive.

What was not decided: The council took public testimony at the hearing; no council vote or formal action on the menstrual-product pilot was recorded in the transcript. The students asked the council to consider adding the program into the FY26 operating budget or otherwise provide support.

Next steps noted by speakers: Testifiers urged council members to consider the pilot as part of deliberations on the executive’s proposed FY26 operating budget and to weigh the student cost estimates and fundraising when evaluating the request.","Students from Mount Hebron and other county high schools asked the Howard County Council during the FY26 operating budget public hearing to add a pilot that would place free menstrual products in libraries, community centers and athletic facilities; they presented a three-month cost estimate and noted local fundraising and external grant awards.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6581967,"Resident urges Howard County to hold home-monitoring contractor ASAP accountable, proposes tiered fee tied to compliance record",0,2595000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3281587-3495b7e48d9b258d7da05eb1b375bc75&start=2595&end=2595","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3281587-3495b7e48d9b258d7da05eb1b375bc75/thumbnail_2595000.jpg","/articles/6581967/Howard-County/Maryland/Resident-urges-Howard-County-to-hold-home-monitoring-contractor-ASAP-accountable-proposes-tiered-fee-tied-to-compliance-record","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6581967-56ed2d2141004afdeaa4cfc0a188e820/orig.mp4?Expires=1771187428&Signature=bl0mYKa3W0D-jdb24UxMgovJJsUsNLz~RMJU-ZFgbAwUCtOW9K3MAnZv-B~vMhHgwf36JOoMEFv6tmGYNBft8QixXuGATO0K74ap3YiMiJzC~3Tzym1aUJRdMwlDN~W23OlwYICq~IGnnGCdqXx5iC4AqrI2Rgq12TwaxWkvzANIYeg9U0aL4LxznKcp6dY~IeiauCCxgrNo8RmYRbXH~F48dqwZletYf4GNFT2ngFPjutjVC5j6xWhtcHcFlHUzz7D60DN4G16vGjLpkgYRmlv1305-mWqiUrFC889JBTGr-70GnE95I-bZspk7tv0iy53umOTtgIbv66Zs3z7m9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Howard County resident asked the county council during the FY26 operating budget public hearing to hold private home-monitoring companies accountable and to consider tying the county’s per-day oversight fee to a company’s compliance record.

Ryan Powers, speaking as a resident of Glenwood, cited news reports about alleged service failures by Advantage Sentencing Alternative Solutions (ASAP). \"The lack of Howard County response in holding home monitoring company Advantage Sentencing Alternative Solutions ASAP responsible for the reported service violations... is extremely disappointing,\" Powers said, quoting local news coverage. He quoted coverage attributing calls for ASAP to be fined or dropped and cited reporting that ASAP did not timely report alleged violations.

Powers asked the council to consider a tiered version of the $12-per-day oversight fee under review, in which companies with more recent complaints and violations would be charged higher fees. \"Companies with more violations and complaints, especially recent ones, are more of a liability to the public and should be charged more,\" he said, adding that the proposal is not intended to limit individuals’ access to home monitoring but to align county oversight fees with providers' compliance histories.

What was not decided: The testimony recorded suggestions and requested policy changes; the transcript does not record council action or a vote on altering the oversight fee or adopting a tiered system.

Context cited by the speaker: Powers referenced news stories and the Commission on Correctional Standards' limited enforcement mechanisms, and asked the county to consider stronger local accountability in procurement or fee-setting to address program noncompliance reported in the press.","At the FY26 operating budget public hearing, a resident asked the council to adopt accountability measures for private home-monitoring companies after media reports of alleged failures by one contractor; the resident suggested a tiered per-day fee based on a company's compliance history.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Nonprofits and housing advocates urge Howard County Council to preserve Community Service Partnership and housing dollars in FY26 budget

Howard County students urge council to fund 3-month menstrual-products pilot in public facilities

Resident urges Howard County to hold home-monitoring contractor ASAP accountable, proposes tiered fee tied to compliance record