LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Monday, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced that more than $150,000 in past due water bills of City of Benton Harbor residents have been paid through the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP).
Additional resources are still available to assist families in paying their utility bills.
Through a grant from MDHHS, Southwest Michigan Community Action Agency paid $151,953 to the City of Benton Harbor to bring the accounts of 237 eligible families current through the program.
Residents should see updates on their water bills this month.
“The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program is providing critical support to qualified Benton Harbor residents, so they are not forced to choose between paying for water services and other necessities,” MDHHS director Elizabeth Hertel said in a statement. “Additional resources are available to help families with their utility bills and I encourage them to seek assistance.”
The federally funded LIHWAP assists households who have had their water disconnected or are facing disconnection by paying the full cost that will reconnect or prevent disconnection of service even if it includes costs other than water, such as trash, cable or internet.
A LIHWAP payment will guarantee service for at least 90 days after receipt of payment and will cover reconnection fees when services have been disconnected.
To qualify for LIHWAP, account holders must:
- Be a residential account.
- Be in arrears or disconnect status.
- Be under 150% Federal Poverty Limit and/or actively receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Food Assistance Program/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (FAP/SNAP), State Emergency Relief (SER) or Social Security Supplemental Income (SSI).
For the recent payment through LIWHAP, the City of Benton Harbor provided a list of customer accounts to MDHHS that were past due or in disconnect status for a data match to current benefit status to help determine eligibility and expediate the payment process.
There are additional opportunities for residents who did qualify through this process to apply for the program by calling 211.
The State Emergency Relief program is also available to households having difficulties paying their water and wastewater bills.
For more information about how to apply for these programs and additional available resources, City of Benton Harbor residents should call 211.
Meanwhile, bottled water is still being delivered and distributed to Benton Harbor residents while work to replace lead lines is underway.
For a list of distribution events this week, click here.
