HOUSTON – Thousands of people lined up to seek disaster food relief at the Greenspoint Recovery Center at Greenspoint Mall Friday, one of three areas where people can get help, including the Pasadena Convention Center and Southwest Service Center.
The people in a line snaking around the parking lot and building were waiting to apply for the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or D-SNAP, following Hurricane Harvey.
As of Friday afternoon, 41,643 people at the Greenspoint Recovery Center, 35,607 at Pasaden and 14,199 at the Multi Service Center -- a total of 91,449 total in Harris County have gotten assistance from the program.
The site KPRC 2 flew over Friday was exclusively for people with last names starting with the letters I through M.
D-Snap line
Posted by KPRC2 Rose-Ann Aragon on Friday, September 29, 2017
Harris County, Texas Health and Human Services officials, staff and volunteers are working at these sites as they take applications and interview applicants. D-SNAP benefit cards are provided to those who qualify.
D-SNAP offers short-term food assistance benefits to families recovering from a disaster. D-SNAP is designed to help when people return to their homes and have access to electricity and grocery stores. Benefits are loaded on a Lone Star Card within three days of applying, and the amount is equal to two months of the maximum amount of SNAP benefits, based on household size.
There is a limited period of time to apply for D-SNAP, based on your county of residence.
For D-SNAP details, go to www.hhs.texas.gov/d-snap or dial 211.
To be eligible, you must:
Be from a county that has been declared a federal disaster area.
Have experienced a loss of income, destruction of your home or a disaster-related expense, such as temporary shelter or home repairs.
Not have been getting regular SNAP benefits at the time of the disaster.
Meet certain income limits.
Applying for D-SNAP
You must apply in person at a designated D-SNAP location in your county of residence. You will not be able to apply online. D-SNAP applications will be accepted for a limited amount of time in each county. See below for designated D-SNAP locations.
Important: HHS is encouraging only the applicant to visit the application sites. Additional family members are creating longer lines and more challenges. Due to limited space, HHS is not allowing individuals who are not applying into the interviewing area; they are being asked to wait in designated areas.
Residents in Harris County may only apply until Oct. 5. Locations will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
Date Last name
Sept. 27 A - C
Sept. 28 D - H
Sept. 29 I - M
Sept. 30 N - R
Oct. 1 S - Z
Oct. 2-5 Anyone
Harris County - Houston
Greenspoint Mall
12300 North Fwy
Houston, Texas 77060
Harris County - Houston
Southwest Multi-Service Center
6400 High Star
Houston, Texas 77074
Harris County - Pasadena
Pasadena Convention Center
7902 Fairmont
Pasadena, Texas 77505
Enter through the fairgrounds entrance at 7601 Red Bluff and follow the directions to the convention center.
"We need them to come on the day they are assigned. That really helps us with the crowd," said Wayne Salter, an associate commissioner with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. "Bring your IDs and fill out your form before you head inside the door."
Salter said the commission hopes to open two more centers as crowds are expected to grow.