The Cambridge City Council on Nov. 3 approved emergency appropriations to respond to immediate food and heating needs amid federal funding uncertainty.

On a unanimous roll-call vote the council accepted a supplemental federal grant appropriation of $138,372. According to the city manager's communication, $33,176 is allocated to grant-fund human-services salaries and wages and $105,196 to grant-fund human-services other ordinary maintenance; the funds are intended to help pay heating bills between Nov. 1, 2025, and April 30, 2026.

Deputy staff described the funds as state carryover of federal HEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) money administered to communities by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. "This is emergency related funding," the deputy city manager said. Claudia Cruz, who runs the city's HEAP program, said state agencies worked with the Department of Public Utilities to request that utilities refrain from shutoffs for customers on discount rates and that the emergency funding will prioritize households with imminent heating loss.

Separately, the council approved a $250,000 appropriation from the Federal Grant Stabilization Fund to human services programs. The city manager announced the Cambridge Community Foundation will match that appropriation with an additional $250,000, creating $500,000 for grocery gift cards for SNAP-eligible Cambridge Public Schools families, older adults in subsidized housing, and additional support for the city's food pantries. City staff said the grocery gift cards were planned for distribution late in the week following the vote.

City staff and councilors framed the actions as short-term mitigation as federal SNAP payments faced disruption during the partial government shutdown and as enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits remained in limbo. The city manager noted recent court rulings required contingency funding be used to issue some SNAP payments and that the federal administration announced it would pay out half of November benefits; the payment schedule is staggered by recipients' Social Security-number digit.

Councilors sought and received operational details: the HEAP emergency funds are expected to cover immediate needs through December while longer-term funding depends on federal action; historically the city's fuel-assistance spending has been about $1 million per year. Cruz provided a contact for residents seeking help: (617) 349-6252, and said applications can be started online or handled in person.

Votes at a glance: The supplemental HEAP appropriation ($138,372) was approved 9-0; the $250,000 appropriation for food insecurity was approved 9-0.