Detroit residents struggling to pay their water bills now have the opportunity to apply for assistance in the new Water Residential Assistance Program (WRAP) launching March 1.
WRAP is a program of the Great Lakes Water Authority and is offered in several counties including Wayne, Macomb, and Oakland. The program will be administered through the Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency in Detroit.
“This is a game-changer for the region,” said Gary Brown, director of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department who helped negotiate the terms of the contract and who sits on the six-member regional water authority board.
“It is a very robust, comprehensive program that addresses all the issues I’ve seen in the past that caused people to fall out of a plan.”
Program Qualifications
To qualify for the program, customers of the Detroit Water and Sewage Department must
- Live at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty threshold
- Provide proof of residency and income
- Provide renter’s proof of responsibility for water on a lease
- Install a new automatic meter reading device or let DWSD install it
- Remain current on their monthly water bill.
Residents who qualify for the program and are accepted will receive help with paying current and past-due water bills.
WRAP Benefits
Eligible customers will receive a $25 monthly bill credit with, and any arrears will be frozen for 12 months. Program participants who consistently make their monthly payments for one year will receive an extra credit of up to $700 applied toward their overdue bills.
WRAP participants may also receive up to $1,000 per household to fix minor plumbing issues causing high water usage. For more information about program benefits and qualifications, click here.
“The WRAP is a step in the right direction for a department that is showing positive signs of reforming itself,” said Justin Wedes, a community activist with Detroit Workers and Builders.
A vocal critic of the water shutoff program in the past, Wedes believes that Detroit is closer to finding a solution. “I’m optimistic that this additional assistance for many Detroiters coupled with much-needed debt relief and wraparound services like plumbing assistance will help DWSD towards the urgent goal of providing clean, affordable water to all of Detroit.”
To apply for the WRAP, residents may call Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency at 313-386-WRAP (9727) or visit the website at www.waynemetro.org/wrap.
