Can’t pay utility bills? Help could be available

As the coronavirus torched the local and national economy, the city of Spokane and Avista teamed up this spring to help residents who are struggling to pay utility bills.

With help from community donations and the nonprofit know-how of Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners, the fundraising effort brought in more than $150,000.

Now they’re ready and waiting for more people to apply and take advantage of the funding.

The $150,000 raised through the utility assistance effort – $50,000 in community donations matched separately by the city of Spokane and Avista – was split evenly between the city’s UHelp program and Avista’s Project Share program.

UHelp provides assistance to Spokane residents struggling to pay their city utility bills such as water and trash pickup. Project Share offers emergency energy assistance to those facing economic hardship.

Applications for both programs are routed through SNAP during the pandemic. Restrictions on who qualifies were loosened.

Through June 8, the city has offered about $35,000 in help to 236 utility customers and hopes more apply to take advantage of the program, according to Marlene Feist, a city spokesperson.

The economic strain on local families could soon worsen as expanded benefits for the unemployed and temporary moratoriums on eviction and late fees expire.

“When they start to see more urgency, we might start to see more people ask for assistance,” Feist said.

The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES, Act passed in March expanded unemployment benefits for the millions of Americans out of work, by loosening eligibility requirements and increasing the weekly payout by a flat $600.

Both of those benefits are due to expire on July 31, unless Congress authorizes an extension. Otherwise, the unemployment benefits will default to the rate paid out by individual states.

While the number of people filing new claims for unemployment benefits is decreasing in Spokane County, there were still 1,617 in the week ending June 13, the most recently available data.

The city has temporarily suspended utility shutoffs, but at some point bills will be due, Feist noted. She urged people in need to apply.

In addition to the initial fundraising campaign, the UHelp program also received a boon from a $7,500 donation from Xylem, a water technology company, and $3,000 from the Innovia Foundation.

To apply for either program, utility customers can call (509) 456-SNAP.