Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan today expressed his gratitude to the Michigan Health Endowment Fund (MHEF) for its commitment of up to $1.7 million to help eligible, low-income Detroiters receive 25% assistance toward paying their water bills. The MHEF today announced it is donating the money to United Way for Southeastern Michigan for the Detroit Water Fund, which provides financial assistance to Detroiters whose income is below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines.
“With the Cobo Water Fair taking place tomorrow, this commitment from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund will help us make sure more low-income Detroiters have the help they need to keep their water on after the shut-off moratorium ends on August 25,” Mayor Duggan said. “I encourage any Detroiter who needs help getting current on their water bill to come out to the Water Fair and get into a payment plan.”
“One of our three core focus areas at United Way is basic needs,” said United Way President & CEO Michael J. Brennan. “There is no more basic need than the need for water—and this contribution from MHEF will go a long way in helping Detroiters with their monthly water bill payments and to get them on a path that will hopefully lead to financial stability in the future.”
The Endowment Fund also announced it is contributing $300,000 to establish a pilot project – also geared toward eligible low-income Detroiters – to assist them with initial clean up and disinfecting of their basements after last week’s flood. The limited scale pilot effort — called Project H2O — will be run by the Wayne Metro Community Action Agency and will use the same criteria as the Detroit Water Fund to determine a person’s eligibility for receiving assistance.
The funding will only go toward initial clean up and disinfecting of flood-damaged areas inside homes to make sure they do not pose any health risks. For more information on applying for funding through Project H20, please call Wayne Metro at 313-388-9789.
The Detroit Water Fair will take place tomorrow, August 23 from 9am – 5pm at the Cobo Center, Exhibit Hall A.
Confirmed Partners and Roles, Cobo Water Fair
- United Way – Helping residents apply for Water Fund assistance and supplying 211 information
- Detroit Area Agency on Aging – Helping customers apply for Water Fund assistance and providing additional assistance for seniors and persons with disabilities
- THAW – Helping customers apply for Water Fund assistance
- Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency – Providing information on a wide variety of needs from utility assistance to financial literacy
- EcoWorks– Providing classes throughout the day on water conservation
- South West Counseling Solutions – Water bill assistance for veterans
- Black Family Development – Information to support the needs of children and families
- Detroit Rescue Missions Ministries – Information on housing needs, substance abuse, and more
- Matrix Human Services – Information on housing, employment, and more
- ACCESS – Helping to provide information on health insurance
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