Taxpayers foot $300,000 water fund for Oakland County
(The Center Square) – Some Oakland County residents can apply for up to a $2,000 grant to avoid water shutoffs and fix leaks.
The Oakland County Board of Commissioners approved about $300,000 of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to support residents facing temporary financial challenges and prevent tax certifications that could result in foreclosure.
Benefits are provided on a first-come, first-served basis with an initial household cap of $2,000. Hardship Assistance Program benefits can include plumbing repairs to address water loss, three months of water and sewer services bills, and help eliminate past-due balances.
Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash and Commissioner Ann Erickson Gault said the program serves those who exceed income limits for other existing water assistance programs but still struggle to pay bills.
“Crisis eventually strikes for all of us, and the existing water assistance programs leave gaps in supporting families who may be doing OK now, but are one emergency away from being unable to pay their water bills,” Gault said in a statement. “Access to healthy, safe and clean drinking water is a basic human right, and I am happy that through this partnership, ARPA funding will go far in ensuring we’re meeting the needs of our communities.”
Darienne Driver Hudson, CEO of United Way for Southeastern Michigan, said the program will expand access to water assistance.
“We are grateful to partner with the Water Resources Commissioner to administer the Hardship Assistance Program for residents in Oakland County,” said in a statement. “Our partnership expands access to water assistance for families who typically are not eligible for other assistance programs.”
United Way for Southeastern Michigan recently began accepting applications for assistance and has already approved a few early applicants.
It’s unclear how long the funds will last. If every applicant received $2,000, then 150 approved applicants would deplete the fund.
Oakland County has about 1.2 million residents so Water Resources and the United Way for Southeastern Michigan seek donations to continue funding the program.
“Every resident deserves access to clean and safe drinking water,” Oakland County Executive David Coulter said in a statement.
Designed with the United Way for Southeastern Michigan, the program seeks to support the 22% of Oakland County households earnings within 300% of the poverty level, putting them within the parameters of the Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed standards used to determine households who may be struggling to make ends meet.
The program is available to all Oakland County residents using municipal water and sewer services.
