Press Release 11/19/09

For immediate release

TO: News Desk, Assignment Editor

FR: Ron Hardin, Communications Manager

SNAP

3102 W. Fort George Wright Drive, Spokane WA 99224

509-456-7111 ext.242; hardin@snapwa.org

Cell phone 993-7143

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SNAP Receives Additional Energy Assistance Funding

SNAP clients can be assured that energy assistance funds are sufficient to fill the need into the month of January at least. Congressional sources advised SNAP late Wednesday afternoon that the energy assistance funding amount had been raised to $2,121,608.

While Congress has not approved the LIHEAP funding appropriation, these additional dollars will be sufficient to keep the program operating through the holiday period. LIHEAP is the acronym for the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

“We’re breathing a sigh of relief,” said Margaret Belote, SNAP Energy Program Director. “We had been worried that the funds from the Continuing Resolution may not have been enough. The need in our community continues to be great for assistance with energy payments.”

SNAP accepts phone calls for energy assistance on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Thursdays from 11a.m. to 3 p.m. The phone number is 242-2376. Calls will also be taken on Saturday, December 5^th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. A limited number of appointments are available on the SNAP website www.snapwa.org

“We hope Congress will ultimately pass the LIHEAP funding resolution at the same level as last year’s program,” said Larry Stuckart, SNAP Executive Director.

SNAP has already served nearly 3,700 households within all of the energy assistance programs. SNAP has allocated over $847,000 to help Spokane County residents pay heating bills. The average amount of assistance is $575 so far this year.

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About SNAP: SNAP connects and provides access to resources which creates opportunities, with dignity, for low income people.