MOUNT VERNON — In a Monday morning meeting with the Knox County Commissioners, Department of Job & Family Services Director Roger Shooter outlined the three forms of disaster relief available to Knox County residents in the wake of extensive wind damage brought about on Sunday, Sept. 14, by remnants of Hurricane Ike.
The first form of relief is the Food Stamp Replacement program, whereby new food stamps are being given out to recipients who regularly receive them and who lost food due to power outages caused by the storm. Shooter said that they have processed 475 “assistance groups” thus far. Assistance groups can be individuals, couples, families or extended families living in one residence.
The second form of relief is $55,000 in TANF-PRC Disaster Assistance from the federal government. Only families are eligible for this assistance, and recipients must be residents of Knox County, must be adversely affected by the emergency condition, and must have a family income below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. A maximum of up to $1,500 can be awarded per family.
The third and final form of relief is Non-TANF Disaster Assistance. Individual recipients must be age 55 or older and without minor children (or with disability and no minor children), resident of the county, adversely affected by the emergency condition, and in need as defined by the county. A maximum of $750 per individual may be granted.
No assistance is being provided for single individuals under age 55 unless they are covered by the food stamp program or have children.
Shooter said that residents can apply at the Department of Job & Family Services for assistance from these programs. He noted that only two cases of fraud have been uncovered thus far.
“People are typically asking only for what they need,” Shooter said.
All relief programs end Oct. 17.
