As the federal government shutdown drags on, Baltimore is stepping up to protect its residents. A press release from the Mayor’s Office announced that Mayor Brandon M. Scott has unveiled a $4.68 million relief package to help families and federal employees struggling with missed paychecks and suspended aid programs. The comprehensive effort focuses on keeping food on tables, roofs over heads, and essential workers supported while the nation’s political drama leaves vulnerable people without help.

The city’s investment will be spread across four major areas: food assistance, rental support, child care relief, and hospital-based violence intervention. The funding comes from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars and carryover funds from Baltimore’s 2025 fiscal budget. Officials say the goal is to provide immediate relief while maintaining long-term stability for residents most affected by the shutdown.

Additionally, $1.71 million will go toward food programs. The Maryland Food Bank will receive $550,000 to expand distribution across the city, while the Baltimore City Health Department will get $410,000 for its Home Delivered Food Box Program, which provides shelf-stable groceries directly to homes. The Department of Planning will use $300,000 to fund an additional 17,000 boxes of fresh produce through the Produce Box Distribution Program, a COVID-era initiative revived to meet current needs. Smaller grants of $150,000 each will go to So What Else, The Food Project, and the Baltimore Hunger Project to ensure food reaches children and families in every neighborhood.

Rental assistance is another key focus. The Mayor’s Office of Children and Family Success (MOCFS) will distribute $1 million in aid to federal employees and tenants in federally subsidized housing. This support will help cover October and November rent payments, preventing evictions for residents who are missing income due to furloughs or delayed paychecks.

To address growing child care costs, the city will provide $1 million to help essential federal workers and SNAP-eligible families pay for care while they continue to work without pay. The funding will also support local child care providers facing financial strain as parents struggle to meet tuition costs during the shutdown.

“Working people in our city are paying the price for failed leadership,” Mayor Scott said in the press release. “While we can’t fill every gap, we’re doing everything possible to help Baltimoreans put food on the table and care for their families.”

Residents can visit baltimorecity.gov/shutdown for eligibility details, program applications, and community resource listings.