“It was just a huge blessing. Getting the windows is setting me up for success. Having a more energy-efficient house should lower the bills down the road.”
Matt, SNAP Client
SNAP WEATHERIZATION HELPED MATT THROUGH ROUGH TIMES
Matt, a longtime Spokane resident, spent 21 years teaching at North Central High School and raising his five children in his 1907 home. His passion for restoring the old house reflected his deep connection to the community and its history.
“I like old stuff. I have a bunch of old cars out in the back. I like fixing things up and making them look nice again. That was my goal,” Matt recalled.
He had taken on the challenge of bringing his home back to its original glory, refinishing floors and painting every room. However, being an older house, it had become a challenge to keep warm during the harsh Spokane winters.
Everything changed for Matt in 2022 when he lost his teaching job.
“That put me into financial trouble. I had trouble finding another teaching job,” Matt shared.
While he managed to find temporary work, the instability left him struggling to make ends meet.
“Teaching jobs are hard to get right now. It’s competitive. During COVID, they hired lots of teachers because they had COVID dollars, and all that money ran out.”
Despite picking up substitute teaching and even driving to Coeur d’Alene for work, Matt’s income wasn’t enough to cover his bills.
“Subbing, you make maybe $150 a day, and that’s if you can get a job every day,” he explained.
With his mortgage and other costs piling up, his heating bill reached a staggering $850, pushing him to seek assistance through SNAP’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
“It was super helpful. It was nice to know that there was something there,” Matt said. “It feels good to know that Spokane is serving a wide breadth of people with SNAP programs.”
“It was super helpful. It was nice to know that there was something there,” Matt said. “It feels good to know that Spokane is serving a wide breadth of people with SNAP programs.”
While LIHEAP helped him get through the immediate crisis, Matt knew that his drafty old house needed long-term solutions. The home’s windows, original to the house, had been painted over countless times over the decades, making it difficult to keep out the cold.
“Just windy. You would hear everything weatherwise. The draft was just crazy. It would just blow right into the house,” Matt remembered.
That’s when he learned about SNAP’s Weatherization Assistance Program, designed to help families make their homes more energy-efficient, reducing energy costs and improving comfort.
After contacting SNAP, Matt was relieved to find out he qualified for energy-efficient replacement windows.
“From the first time calling and asking about it, they laid out the process to apply. They were good about communicating,” Matt said.
Once the work began, he was impressed with the proficiency of the SNAP team.
“Everything was very professional. As far as cleaning up, they were great at how they worked. Overall, really good.”
The new windows made an immediate impact.
“This summer, I could tell already. It’s crazy the difference. It was much cooler in the house. There’s no question it’s far more insulated than it has ever been before.”
Matt also noticed a significant drop in his energy bills, making the financial strain much easier to handle.
“There’s no question it’s down. It has definitely been down considerably,” he said.
SNAP’s Weatherization Assistance Program, part of a nationwide initiative, helps families like Matt’s save money on utilities by upgrading their homes. The program, especially crucial as winter approaches, reduces the energy burden on low-income families, which can otherwise force them to choose between paying bills and covering necessities like food or medicine. According to national data, families can save an average of $283 per year on energy costs through weatherization.
For Matt, the help from SNAP came at just the right time.
“It was just a huge blessing. Getting the windows is setting me up for success. Having a more energy-efficient house should lower the bills down the road,” he said, expressing his gratitude for the program.
This is National Energy Awareness Month. As SNAP prepares to celebrate Weatherization Day on Wednesday, October 30, Matt’s story is a testament to the importance of this vital service. Not only does weatherization improve comfort and reduce costs for families, but it also creates jobs and promotes energy conservation across the country. Matt couldn’t be happier with the support he’s received.
“Very satisfied. I would for sure recommend the SNAP Weatherization program.”
With winter fast approaching, Matt is looking forward to a warmer, more comfortable home, all thanks to SNAP and their dedication to helping families in need. Our weatherization team provides FREE services to eligible Spokane residents. From insulating walls to upgrading windows and much more, we’ll help you save energy and live more comfortably. See if you qualify and learn more about SNAP’s weatherization program at snapwa.org/wx or call (509)456-7627 EXT. 2419.
We would appreciate your support as we provide opportunities to people in need.