Food banks were mentioned prominently at this city of Chandler table during an October Chandler Center for the Arts event. City leaders are discussing ways the city can support residents as the federal shutdown and other food, housing and other resources are impacted.
A pair of Chandler City Council members have made recent statements about the uncertainty surrounding federal programs that address both food security and housing, amid the shutdown.
Council member O.D. Harris said he’s trying to get an item onto a Council meeting agenda the week of Nov. 10-13 that would address those gaps.
“No one should have to choose between rent, food and keeping the lights on,” Harris wrote on his social media, adding he wants the city to take an “all options on the table” approach.
“We need to move with urgency and compassion and communicate clearly every step of the way,” Harris wrote.
Harris has proposed the city take the following actions:
-Request staff to bring back options for an emergency moratorium on residential city utility shutoffs and late fees through Dec. 31 to accommodate shutdown-related hardship.
-Direct staff to identify every lawful pathway to a temporary moratorium on housing evictions through Jan. 31, 2026 and rapid rent assistance.
-Evaluate a moratorium (temporary suspension to 0%) of the city retail food tax on groceries through Dec. 31, including legal steps and revenue impacts.
-Recommend one-time funds and partner commitments to expand rent, utility, food, shelter, and “Meals on Wheels”(-type programs) for seniors, with faster, simpler access.
-Launch a citywide community needs assessment with residents, schools, nonprofits and faith partners.
Council member Matt Orlando said he isn’t sure if all of the steps involved in any remedy involving taxes or state or federally regulated flows of money or contracts can be altered quickly enough to make a difference. But he does think that analyzing existing one-to-one city-nonprofit partnerships could lead to the city chippng in funds.
“If we can find discretionary funds we already have, and help prop up food banks or similar that we’re already engaged with, I can see doing that,” Orlando said.
Orlando said it’s important, in these situations, to not necessarily take over for city partners or change the flow of operations, but to consider adding to those organizations’ resources instead.
“Let’s help the specialists, like the food banks, distribute more and distribute more efficiently,” Orlando said. “They’re the ones who know where the resources need to go.”
Orlando said even though the city does have some subsidized housing, it’s more complicated than the food security questions. For one, he said, Chandler doesn’t technically own any houses or apartments, and has no direct say on landlord evictions.
Orlando said he and other leaders are talking with Deputy City Manager Leia Powell, and her successor as Neighborhood Services director, Riann Balch, about housing possibilities and contingency plans as the federal shutdown and other economic changes continue to impact residents.
On Nov. 5, the city of Chandler sent out an op-ed article, penned by Council member Jane Poston, pointing residents to a variety of nonprofit and other resources and listing several upcoming free community events where food and other supply donations will be collected.
Spokesperson Matt Burdick told Independent Newsmedia about many of the resources Poston mentioned, along with mentioning that the city webpages Chandler Resources and chandleraz.gov/WeCanHelp are good places to start.
Jason W. Brooks News Editor | Chandler Independent
Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.
Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.
Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.
Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.
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