Southwest Michigan residents seeking assistance with utility bills can now take action.
Through state funding, the Southwest Michigan Community Action Agency is offering a Local Water Utility Affordability Program. This new program provides eligible residents with up to $3,000 to pay for arrears for water and sewer bills, up to $9,000 to address plumbing issues and coverage of reconnection fees.
Kim Smith Oldham, executive director at SMCAA, told us how the program came about.
“COVID had a lot to do with them finding out that people didn’t have hot water or their water was turned off,” Oldham said. “How are they going to sanitize, clean, and this brought up a whole bunch of other things.”
The program, running until 2026, comes after a majority of low-income communities are being threatened with water shutoffs. Oldham said that this program will help anyone that are unable to pay utilities, and sees it as a way to help those that are struggling to pay bills.
“It’s going to help anybody that has metered water utilities that can’t pay their water or they’re finding themselves in an emergency where they’ve had to pay out, paycheck to paycheck. ‘I got this, I can’t pay that.’ So this program is going to assist.”
Residents can fill out an application and learn more about the program at smcaa.com/apply. Applicants will need to file documents and show proof of income, emergency, and identification.
