The state has received approval to distribute disaster food stamps in 16 parishes impacted by Hurricane Laura. The program will run in phases, with the first phase beginning tomorrow in Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Rapides, Vermilion, and Vernon. Shavana Howard with DCFS on what eligible residents should do.
“They would call into our call center, hopefully, they would have already registered for DSNAP online, if not that’s ok, they can call into the call center starting at 8 a.m.,” said Howard.
The number to the call center is 1-888-LA-Help-U and it’s in operation from 8 AM to 5 PM.
Howard urges anyone who lives in the 16 parishes impacted by Hurricane Laura to pre-register online first and then call in according to their last name on certain days to apply. A list of days can be found on the website.
“Every resident in those parishes are eligible as long as they have low to moderate-income and resources, every resident would be eligible,” said Howard.
Howard says they are rolling out benefits to the remaining seven parishes (Grant, Jackson, Lincoln, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Sabine, and Winn) beginning September 17th, and be sure to visit the website for information about eligibility for the DSNAP program. Howard says they are working with other state agencies to streamline the registration process.
“We are trying to make it so that people don’t have to send in a bunch of information to verify their identity and residency, so we have partnered with LA Wallet through the state and currently the LA Wallet app with the state is free right now,” says Howard.
For more information and to pre-register go to www.dcfs.la.gov/DSNAP
Reported by Brooke Thorington
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