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The Spokane Neighborhood Action Programs, oftentimes called SNAP for short, offers Spokane Washington residents several programs and resources that they can take advantage of to help them through difficult times. SNAP is the local non-profit Community Action Agency that offers resources and serves Spokane County residents. The primary goal of the Spokane Neighborhood Action Program is to assist both families and individuals with paying their bills, and they help struggling people make a successful transition from dealing with a crisis to self-sufficiency over the long term. The resources they offer are below. There are additional programs as well. Contact them at (509) 456-7111 to learn more about these or other programs, or to apply.
The SNAP organization has distributed over $2 million in assistance to low and moderate income households in Spokane County. The money has been distributed over the last two months, and the amount paid out will usually increase over the winter. The assistance is to help people pay their heating and utility bills. Almost 8,000 families across the county have sought help with paying heating bills.
Over the last 3 months, almost 900 households that had received a shutoff notice from their utility company, or those who have run out of firewood or heating oil, have received emergency grants to help them keep their service on. This is a separate program, and it has paid out hundreds of thousands of dollars of emergency aid. Also click here to learn about the utility disconnection laws in Washington.
This is yet another energy bill program that is available by SNAP. Project Share is a local fuel fund that that was created from donations from customers and utility companies themselves. The program was established to provide emergency energy bill assistance to those people and individuals who are not otherwise eligible for energy bill assistance. It will also help those people who have exhausted all other available energy assistance sources, including government assistance. Payment from Project Share is limited to the minimum amount that is needed to address an emergency for electric or gas bills, 100 gallons of free heating oil or propane, one ton of pellets or one cord of wood, and the total monetary value of the aid provided can’t exceed $300 for any assistance. People can use this program only once per year. Other programs provide free heating oil. Read more.
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This is an energy efficiency program offered by SNAP. The program is free to qualified families, and it targets low and moderate income residential and multifamily housing units. Both owner occupied homes and rental homes are eligible. The weatherization services provide a wide variety of energy conserving measures that encompass the building as a whole, its cooling and heating systems, electricity consuming appliances, and its electrical system.
Some of the free upgrades completed to a home can include installation of extra insulation in ceilings and attics, basements, and exterior walls, repair windows and doors, install or repair water heaters, pipe, and duct insulation, and caulking.
Struggling as well as low income families may be eligible for repairs and updates to their homes. This program will replace and/or repair items that pose health or safety hazards to individuals and families. This home repair program will focus on those minor but essential repairs such as no water, lack of heat, and low-cost plumbing issues. It can also include furnace repairs, appliance repairs, hot water tanks, faucets, and other items. Find other ways to repair your home for free.
Contact the Spokane Neighborhood Action Program to learn more about these programs, other services they offer or to apply for aid. (509) 456-7111
Contact the Spokane County Veteran Services, which can be reached at (509) 477-3690. They offer several different assistance programs to military veterans. They provide food assistance, and they can also provide what is known as travel assistance. Travel assistance is either a bus pass or free gasoline so that veterans can get to and from work, job interviews, and other important appointments.
Some of the other assistance they can provide to veterans and families includes some rental assistance if they have an eviction notice or are behind on rent, and they can also help with paying heating and utility bills if they have a turnoff notice. They can also refer people to government programs that help veterans with rent. Learn more.
If somebody were to come in for rent assistance, while the organization can’t pay their entire rent, or they can’t pay their entire utility bill, Spokane County Veteran Services can at least pay enough of their rent or energy bills to keep it from getting turned off in most cases, or to keep the person from being evicted from their housing.
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Spokane County Community Services, which can be reached at (509) 477-5722, offers Housing and Community Development. The assistance program provides both rental and utility bill assistance to Spokane County’s low and moderate income residents. The program is open to individuals, families, singles and even couples without children However qualifying candidates must be a county resident with an income under 50 percent of the Spokane area median income.
The program is funded by the government, and the funding for the program is coming from Federal Recovery Funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Find a number of other non-profit organizations to call for rent help in Spokane County. Families with children, seniors, and disabled are given priority, but all low income individuals are free to apply for assistance.
Salvation Army - Citadel Corps. which is based in Spokane and can be reached at (509) 325-6810 is one of the leading agencies to call for help and to find information on both Washington and federal government programs, information on local charities and non-profits, and other aid. They may even have, from time to time, limited financial assistance that they can offer people on a select basis. Read more on rent programs.
DSHS- Community Services Office - Eastern Washington (Spokane Washington (877) 501 - 2233) runs the government Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), State Family Assistance (SFA), or Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA). Applicants and people who want help must have an emergency housing, utility, heating or other financial need; and the applicant also needs to have a good reason that you had insufficient funds to pay your housing or utility bills.
Medical Lake Outreach Center provides rental assistance when funding is available, as it is limited. Medical Lake Washington. Phone (509) 299 - 3819
Spokane Valley Partners - Contact them for aid, as they provides emergency financial assistance, support, cash aid and referrals to Spokane Valley residents. The agency assists with energy shut offs, emergency food assistance, rent evictions, transportation for employment, and some prescription medications. Call (509) 927 - 1153.
Volunteers of America of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho. Provides help with paying utilities, city water bills, gasoline vouchers, 2-hour bus passes, and personal hygiene items. Phone (509) 624 - 2378.
Our Place Ministries of Spokane Washington (phone (509) 326 - 7267) can help pay an utility bill if you have a disconnection. Click here for information on utility disconnection laws.
St Vincent De Paul Spokane District Council - The non-profit Society provides qualified individuals with emergency free food, financial assistance for rent, travel, utilities, clothing, medical care. prescriptions and other requests. Spkane Washington. (509) 535 2491
Human Services - Runs the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Program (HPRP). Call the agency at (509) 625-6130. This program can provide emergency rent help, eviction prevention grants, pay for people to move, and provide money for first months rent/security deposits, among other aid.
Cancer Patient Care – Patients diagnosed with cancer and their immediate family members may qualify for financial assistance for items such as utilities or basic needs. For example, the non-profit provides up to $100 cash grant to be used for assistance on electric/heat and/or water bill every three months. 1507 East Sprague, Spokane, Washington, 99202, call (509) 456-0446
Caritas Center – Organization provides emergency assistance for paying utilities and some other basic needs for those who qualify. Address is 2919 N. Monroe, Spokane, WA, 99205, (509) 326-2249
Cheney Outreach Center – Services offered at the center can provide basic emergency monetary and financial assistance for low-income individuals and families and the working poor. In addition they also offer information and referral to members of the community for government assistance, charity programs, and other local resources. Aid is only for Cheney school district families. 423 N 6th Street, Cheney, Washington, 99004, telephone :(509) 235-8900
Below is information on Washington non-profits and programs that help people across Spokane County. Get foreclosure counseling, help with utility bills, legal aid, and other aid.
Funds that can be used to prevent an eviction and for rental assistance are available for Spokane Washington residents who are facing an eviction or having trouble paying their rent. The City of Spokane has received almost $2 million to assist households with remaining in their current apartment or rental home.
The funds are a result of the city of Spokane’s Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing program. The aid is known as the Moving Forward program. The City of Spokane is partnering with four local agencies and charities, including Catholic Charities, Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners, Volunteers of America, and the Spokane Low Income Housing Consortium. The Moving Forward program will provide outreach, cash grants, case management, and housing location assistance to help keep individuals and families in their homes.
Rent funds from Moving Forward will help people who have been impacted by a job lay off, Loss of business income or business closure, or a reduction in income as a result of a Reduction in hours or household income. Call 509-455-4965 to learn more or apply for rent or eviction help.
Second Harvest Inland Northwest distributes food and groceries to local charities, pantry, and non-profits. Call them at (509) 534-6678 to find a distribution center near you.
All Saints Lutheran Church (Spokane (509) 838 - 4409), Audubon Park United Methodist ((509) 325 - 4541), The Greenhouse (Deer Park (509) 276 - 8224), and New Hope Resource Center ((509) 467 - 2900) are all agencies, non-profits, and charities that offer free food, vouchers, groceries, and possible other forms of help like clothes. You need to call them to get the specifics. Also, click here for additional food assistance programs.
Or if these two locations are out of funding or can’t meet your needs, find more Spokane food pantries.
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Solid Ground - Housing Counseling and Homelessness Prevention is a non-profit agency that helps Spokane area homeowners keep their homes through mortgage default counseling and foreclosure prevention solutions. Housing counselors may include negotiating repayment plans or forbearance agreements with banks and lenders. Provides information on the foreclosure process and loss mitigation options available to avoid foreclosure, including government mortgage programs. More.
In addition, the agency offers assistance in developing a budget to get and stay current with lenders and bills they have, and can help reduce debts. Targets clients who are behind or chronically late on mortgage payments. Also provides referrals to other community resources, government programs, charities, and other non-profits and may have limited mortgage assistance. Availability of funds varies throughout the year. Call (206) 694 - 6766
Christ Clinic (phone (509) 325 - 0393) provides acute and chronic primary health and medical care for men, women, and children by a family oriented doctor. Find information on programs such as free medications. Learn more.
East Central Community Center - Spokane provide primary medical care and no fees are charged. Phone (509) 625 - 6699.
Spokane Falls Family Clinic - The community clinic offers services on a sliding fee scale, and they can provide a full range of medical and health care services, including prenatal care and delivery. Four family practice physicians are on staff as well as three nurse practitioners, two dentists and two residents and other professionals. There is an on-site medical laboratory and fully stocked pharmacy for use by the clinic's patients. The staff will work with you to make your care both high quality and affordable. Spokane Washington (509) 326 - 4343.
If one of the centers mentioned above can’t provide the health care you need, then find additional Spokane clinics that may be able to help you save on medical bills.
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