Low-income Detroiters are now able to apply for assistance with their water bills through the Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency (Wayne Metro). The program offers help with payments and can provide up to $3,000 to address water debt.
To qualify for assistance through Wayne Metro, applicants must have a household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. They must also live in the property for which they are applying and be responsible for the water bill. It is not necessary to have received a shut-off notice or have past-due bills to apply.
Applications can be submitted online or in person at a Wayne Metro service center. In-person application hours are Mondays through Thursdays, from 8:30 a.m. to noon and again from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. On a recent Monday morning, Wayne Metro’s automated phone system indicated that applications open every Monday at 8 a.m., but close once the non-profit’s “weekly capacity” is reached. Callers were advised to apply as early in the week as possible and to check again the following Monday if applications were closed. The online application was reported as unavailable at 1:30 p.m. that Monday.
Wayne Metro aims for a two- to three-week turnaround time for processing applications. Once an application is 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 suggests applicants ensure their documents are current and complete, and to respond promptly to any requests for additional information. The agency also encourages applicants to contact them for support if they need help understanding or completing the application process. For updates on when assistance applications open, residents can sign up for Wayne Metro’s monthly newsletter or contact the agency directly.
The availability of these programs addresses a significant need across the city. 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, which Detroit currently does not have. Instead, residents must navigate a variety of programs administered by different agencies, each with its own application periods and requirements.
Cecily McClellan, a co-founder of We the People, noted that the current assistance programs fall “far short of the need.” She highlighted that water bills have increased over time, now posing difficulties not just for low-income residents, but for “moderate-income folks” as well.
Among other options, the city's Lifeline H2O program typically caps monthly bills at $34 for eligible households and offers shut-off protection for customers who stay current on their payments. However, the city is currently not accepting new applicants for Lifeline H2O, despite the program having $3.5 million in Great Lakes Water Authority funds. The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) has stated it still needs to secure a vendor to manage applications and enrollment for Lifeline H2O, though spokesperson Sonali Patel said the program is expected to reopen “again this calendar year.”
Another existing program, the EasyPay Plan, remains open to customers. This plan allows individuals to spread their water debt over a 36-month period and also provides shut-off protection as long as customers keep up with their payments.
Officials at Wayne Metro acknowledge that the process of finding and applying for assistance can be confusing, with application windows frequently opening and closing based on funding availability and the capacity of administrators to process applications. Melissa Davis, Wayne Metro’s utility assistance and intake director, stated the non-profit is working to evaluate its processes and technology to make accessing assistance easier and more seamless for residents. Davis also expressed concern for applicants waiting months for help, noting their anxiety and rising bills.