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For Immediate Release:
July 24, 2006
Contact: Deborah Scott
(573) 751-4815
St. Louis - The Department of Social Services, Division of Family Services is assisting those affected by the recent storms in St. Louis. As a result of the storms last week, DSS local offices in the St. Louis area were hard hit by the power outages, but were able to maintain full operations at 50 percent of the local offices. Today, 100 percent of the local offices are open and operational. Long lines have been reported at many of the offices.
"We ask for people's patience, as we do our very best to serve them. Hundreds of our employees were also affected by this disaster, but many of them made incredible efforts to come to work so they could be of assistance to others," said Janel Luck, Family Support Division Director.
Luck added that the pressing need today centered primarily around the Food Stamp program. "We want to clarify some misinformation that is out there. The Family Support Division is able to replace food stamp benefits for Food Stamp households that lost food purchased with their food stamps as a result of the power outages." Citizens that were receiving food stamps and lost food purchased with the food stamps are eligible for a replacement equal to the amount that they lost. If clients live in a zip code that had power outage and lost food, they may call or come to their local office and complete a one page form to have their food stamp benefits replaced. Once the form is completed, benefits will be replaced and available on the person's electronic benefit card the next morning. Contrary to some errant reports, the Food Stamp program does not issue "vouchers" for food, but rather replaces the loss. The replacement process is simple and straightforward.
"We have also provided food for public feeding sites, so if people have an immediate need for food, these locations are good options," Luck said. "We will be accepting reports of loss at least through the end of July, so if people do not have an emergency need for the replacement, it is alright to wait a day or two to contact their case worker. We will do everything we can to help," Luck added.
