Montco 'Ghosted' By Federal Government, $5M In Critical Funding Withheld

NORRISTOWN, PA — Montgomery County authorities are calling on the federal government to release some $5 million in grant funding that has been withheld by the Department of Housing and Urban development since last month. The money is the chief source of funding for Your Way Home, the county's partner in rental assistance, rehousing, and other issues related to the ongoing homeless crisis.

Officials said the delay of the grants, which comes amid numerous federal spending freezes imposed by President Trump's administration, has already impacted services provided for some of the county's most vulnerable residents. Some 400 Montgomery County residents, including 120 children, are at risk of homelessness due to the delay, commissioners said.

“HUD never delivered the standard obligation letters to us," Commissioner Neil Makhija said from the Montgomery County Courthouse steps in Norristown, one of an impassioned coterie of speakers who made what was termed a public plea. "Funding for permanent supportive housing that was supposed to arrive this month is not here. Delaying this funding without so much as a word from the federal government is reckless."

Aside from not providing the money, the county says they have received no guidance from HUD on what to do in the interim.

While the funding comes during a time of massive cuts at the federal level and a drastic new reality in the operation of government and relation of local, county, state, and federal entities, Montgomery County authorities say there is no actual order to withhold the grant in question.

County commissioners said they were told only that some contracts were stalled due to "confusion" at the federal level.

"For over a decade, Montgomery County has received funding from the federal government to help keep families safe and in their homes," Commissioner Jamila Winder added. "This system is now broken and we are being ghosted by the federal government."

The Continuum of Care program granted Montgomery County $5,012,740 in January, a vast increase over the $777,616 they received in 2024. The funds go to nine different local nonprofits which are marshaled by Your Way Home. In addition to rental assistance, programs assist with domestic violence protection, eviction prevention, outreach on the streets to homeless individuals, assistance for families, and programs aimed to preventing at-risk children specifically from being left on the streets.

Local officials say that if they don't receive the grants, most of Your Way Home will no longer be able to operate.

The county is currently working on contingency plans and raising funds through public donations to provide gap funding in the interim.