Applications are now open for low-income Detroit residents seeking help with their water bills. The Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency, commonly known as Wayne Metro, is offering assistance with payments and can provide up to $3,000 to help clear existing water debt.
To qualify for assistance through Wayne Metro, applicants must meet specific criteria. Households need to have an income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Additionally, applicants must live in the property for which they are seeking assistance and be responsible for the water bill. It is important to note that a shut-off notice or a past-due bill is not required to apply for this program.
Residents can apply for assistance either online or in person at a Wayne Metro service center. In-person applications are accepted Mondays through Thursdays, during the hours of 8:30 a.m. to noon and again from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Those applying online should be aware of the agency's capacity limits. Wayne Metro's automated phone system indicates that applications open every Monday at 8 a.m., but they close once the non-profit's “weekly capacity” is reached. Callers are encouraged to apply as early in the week as possible and to check again the following Monday if applications are closed. As of a recent Monday afternoon, the online application was reported as unavailable.
Once an application is submitted, Wayne Metro aims for a two-to-three-week turnaround for processing. If approved, the assistance funds are applied directly to the customer's water account. To check the status of an application, residents should have their identification information ready and call the Wayne Metro Connect Center at 313-388-9799. Wayne Metro advises applicants to ensure all submitted documents are current and complete, and to respond promptly to any requests for additional information. The agency also encourages applicants who need help understanding or completing the application to contact Wayne Metro for support throughout the process. For ongoing updates on when assistance applications open, residents can sign up for Wayne Metro’s monthly newsletter or contact the agency directly to receive updates.
While Wayne Metro offers crucial support, the water advocacy organization We the People of Detroit estimates that approximately 60,000 households in the city would qualify for a comprehensive water affordability program. The city currently lacks such a unified program, leaving residents to rely on a “patchwork of programs” administered by various agencies, each with different application windows and requirements.
One such program, Lifeline H2O, is a Detroit initiative designed to cap monthly water bills at $34 for eligible households. However, this program is currently not accepting new applicants. Lifeline H2O has secured $3.5 million in funds from the Great Lakes Water Authority. The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department has stated it still needs to secure a vendor to manage the applications and enrollment for Lifeline H2O. A spokesperson, Sonali Patel, noted that Lifeline H2O is “expected to reopen 'again this calendar year'.” Another available option for customers is the EasyPay Plan, which allows water debt to be spread over a 36-month period. This plan remains open for enrollment. Both Lifeline H2O and EasyPay provide shut-off protection for customers who remain current on their bills.
Cecily McClellan, a co-founder of We the People, expressed concerns that the current assistance programs do not adequately meet the significant need in the community. McClellan highlighted that water, once considered a cost-efficient utility, has seen its bill increase over time. This rise in cost now impacts a broader range of residents. “Now, it’s not just low-income. We’re talking about moderate-income folks that are starting to experience difficulty with water,” McClellan stated.
Officials at Wayne Metro acknowledge the challenges and confusion residents face when trying to find and apply for assistance. The opening and closing of application windows, which depend on funding availability and the capacity of administrators to process requests, can make the process difficult to navigate. The nonprofit stated its commitment to streamlining operations to provide timely assistance. Melissa Davis, Wayne Metro’s utility assistance and intake director, affirmed this commitment, saying, “We are committed to continuing to evaluate our processes and technology to find additional ways to make accessing assistance easier and more seamless for residents.” Davis also shared concerns about the waiting period applicants often endure, noting, “I just hate them (applicants) sitting there having to wait for assistance for months, and they’re probably getting anxious and nervous and their bills are rising.”
The various programs available for water bill assistance aim to help Detroiters manage their utility costs. Residents needing support are encouraged to utilize the open application window at Wayne Metro and stay informed about other programs as they become available.
