West Virginia school clothing voucher applications delayed as July 1 opening passes – WCHS

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by BAILEE TUCKER
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — Many West Virginia families expecting to apply for the state's annual school clothing voucher program on July 1 were unable to do so after the application process was delayed without a new start date.
Tamara Christian, who recently took temporary custody of her three granddaughters, said she had planned to apply after a Department of Human Services employee reminded her during a recent appointment about the anticipated application date.
"I just had to take temporary custody of my three granddaughters," Christian said. "They're eight, six and almost three. This is one year that they would've definitely been a huge help."
Christian said she later learned through social media that the program had been delayed, adding that the uncertainty has increased the financial strain on her family.
"You can't imagine the stress on top of the stress," she said.
Earlier this year, Gov. Patrick Morrisey said the state was reviewing programs funded through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) because of a projected funding shortfall. At the time, he said the clothing voucher program could be affected.
Another parent, Megan Pomeroy, said she contacted the Department of Human Services seeking information about the delay.
"They do not have no date. Nothing. They don't have no information whatsoever," Pomeroy said, describing what she says department staff told her.
Pomeroy said the uncertainty is making it difficult for families preparing for the upcoming school year.
"How are we going to do this? Now we have to budget everything," she said.
The Department of Human Services has not announced a new application date for the clothing voucher program.
WCHS reached out to the department multiple times by email and phone seeking clarification about the delay and when applications will open but had not received a response as of publication. WCHS has not independently verified what individual families were told by department staff.
2026 Sinclair, Inc.

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