utilizes the remainder of her money for unexpected harvest expenses.” to prepare canned goods for SNAP (Spokane the winter. She cans According to , families with Neighborhood Action everything from jams to limited income, on average, sauces and salsas. The spend 16% of their income Partners) couple live on a fixed on energy costs. That is why income. Gardening and when Glenda saw a flier for Glenda and her husband canning are just one of the energy assistance at the Jerome have lived in their tools they utilize to make Avista Utilities energy fair, north side home for 44 ends meet. she marked it on her years. Their home, like so calendar. Financial much of Spokane’s housing assistance to help cover tough to “It’s always stock, is aging. Older budget, especially in the high-energy costs in the housing stock, like the winter can allow for more winter months,” explained Glenda and Jerome’s money to spend on food, Glenda. “We do what we home, can pose a have to to make it medicine and other essential through.” unique set of challenges for needs. both homeowners and the Glenda and Jerome are not community. This can be The Avista energy fair was alone; in 2016, SNAP further complicated when served 10,180 low-income the first couple’s low-income families occupy introduction to SNAP. They residents 55 and older in these homes and struggle to various programs. learned they were eligible afford maintenance and for a $400 toward their repairs. Avista bill. While speaking with a SNAP Energy Although the home couple’s Specialist, they also learned be eligible for “To may be cold and drafty, it is about the (WAP). weatherization, a household cared for meticulously. One of two has to make less than of Glenda’s favorite things $2,949 a The WAP program was month” Cynthia about her home is that it sits launched in 1976 to save Brower, SNAP’s on a double lot. This leaves Administrative Assistant imported oil and reduce her plenty of room for one energy bills for vulnerable of the explains, “most of her favorite pastimes, households we serve make families. Recipients of the gardening. programs save an average of much less than that. $283 per year in energy costs, according to the (NASCSP). The program a lot of It doesn’t leave When summer ends, Glenda
SNAP (Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners) Glenda and her husband Jerome have lived in their north side home for 44 years. Their home, like so much of Spokane’s housing stock, is aging. Older housing stock, like the Glenda and Jerome’s home, can pose a unique set of challenges for both homeowners and the community. This can be further complicated when low-income families occupy these homes and struggle to afford maintenance and repairs. Although the couple’s home may be cold and drafty, it is cared for meticulously. One of Glenda’s favorite things about her home is that it sits on a double lot. This leaves her plenty of room for one of her favorite pastimes, gardening. When summer ends, Glenda utilizes the remainder of her harvest to prepare canned goods for the winter. She cans everything from jams to sauces and salsas. The couple live on a fixed income. Gardening and canning are just one of the tools they utilize to make ends meet. “It’s always tough to budget, especially in the winter months,” explained Glenda. “We do what we have to to make it through.” Glenda and Jerome are not alone; in 2016, SNAP served 10,180 low-income residents 55 and older in various programs. “To be eligible for weatherization, a household of two has to make less than $2,949 a month” Cynthia Brower, SNAP’s Administrative Assistant explains, “most of the households we serve make much less than that. It doesn’t leave a lot of money for unexpected expenses.” According to , families with limited income, on average, spend 16% of their income on energy costs. That is why when Glenda saw a flier for energy assistance at the Avista Utilities energy fair, she marked it on her calendar. Financial assistance to help cover high-energy costs in the winter can allow for more money to spend on food, medicine and other essential needs. The Avista energy fair was the couple’s first introduction to SNAP. They learned they were eligible for a $400 toward their Avista bill. While speaking with a SNAP Energy Specialist, they also learned about the (WAP). The WAP program was launched in 1976 to save imported oil and reduce energy bills for vulnerable families. Recipients of the programs save an average of $283 per year in energy costs, according to the (NASCSP). The program
HIP-Weatherization-Success-Stories-SNAP-11-2017.docx