Oakland County to help with water bills

Program to provide relief for some residents

Oakland County residents can now apply for a new program to help cover their water and sewer bills, wipe away past due balances and pay for plumbing repairs.

The program, offering up to $2,000, is meant to provide relief for families hit with temporary financial hardships — such as a sudden job loss or medical expense — who don’t qualify for existing water assistance, but who still struggle to afford water. The office of the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash partnered with the United Way for Southeastern Michigan to launch the Hardship Assistance Program.

“In our ongoing efforts to ensure all Oakland County residents have access to affordable water, we’ve collected data that reveals a significant need to provide a safety net for hardworking families whose incomes are too high to qualify for existing water assistance programs,” Nash said in a news release this week.

“These are people who earn above the federal poverty line but who often struggle to afford basic needs, including full and consistent access to affordable water for their families.”

Water affordability is top-of-mind for communities in the region. Metro Detroit officials have been at odds over proposed legislation seeking to implement a $2 monthly fee for water customers that would support an affordability fund water providers could tap to reduce bills for low-income residents.

Since 1980, the average cost of water service in the state — drinking water, sewerage and stormwater costs — increased 188% when adjusted for inflation, according to researchers from the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and consulting firm Safe Water Engineering. In 2020, during the CO

VID-19 pandemic, more than 317,000 Michiganders were behind on their water bills.

The Oakland County program is funded by $300,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars. Oakland County Water Resources and United Way are looking for donations to keep the program running beyond the pandemic relief funds. Oakland County estimates being able to help 100 households with the current funding.

Here’s what Oakland County residents should know about the Hardship Assistance Program:

What does the program offer?

The Hardship Assistance Program is available to Oakland County residents who use municipal water and sewer services, and don’t rely on a private well. The program offers up to $2,000 in assistance and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. It can cover plumbing repairs to mitigate water loss, water and sewer bill assistance and past due balances.

Who qualifies?

Oakland County residents who make up to 300% of the federal poverty level are eligible for the program. That translates to $93,600 for a family of four or $45,180 for one person.

According to the county, 22% of residents live in households that don’t qualify for assistance under federal poverty guidelines but who still struggle to make ends meet. In other words, they fall within the United Way’s ALICE threshold, meaning they aren’t technically living in poverty but don’t earn enough to afford the basics where they reside.

“We are grateful to partner with the Water Resources Commissioner to administer the Hardship Assistance Program for residents in Oakland County. Our partnership expands access to water assistance for families who typically are not eligible for other assistance programs,” Darienne Driver Hudson, CEO of the United Way for Southeastern Michigan, said in the news release.

How to apply

To apply for the program, go to unitedwaysem.org/utility-assistance and scroll to the “Oakland County Water Bill and Plumbing Repair Assistance” section. There is no deadline for the program and it is available as long as funding is available.