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Nonprofit says water‑bill assistance program could help Irondale residents after county funding shift
Summary
Jamika Baez of the H2O Foundation described a program that previously partnered with Birmingham Water Works to provide water‑bill and plumbing assistance; council members asked for data on Irondale residents served and discussed exploring a local version of the program.
Jamika Baez, executive director of the H2O Foundation, told the Irondale City Council that the nonprofit has provided water‑related assistance in Greater Birmingham for about 20 years and now faces funding changes after a policy referred to in the meeting as SB 330 ended a partnership with Birmingham Water Works.
“We provide up to $500 once per year in support of your water and sewer bill. And if you have a plumbing need, we provide up to a thousand dollars in plumbing repair to those eligible,” Baez said, describing eligibility that requires recipients to be at least 55 years old and/or receiving disability and, for plumbing repairs, to be homeowners.
Why it matters: Councilman Aaron Sims said he invited the foundation to explore whether Irondale could replicate or link to a similar program locally so residents on different water providers would have a place to apply for help.
Baez said the foundation historically assisted more than 1,200 individuals and more than 586 households annually and that the program paid plumbers directly up to $1,000 per eligible household. She said the foundation cannot currently pull a precise list of Irondale recipients under its former partnership model, but that the organization can run ZIP‑code reports and now uses an in‑house intake system called Empower for direct referrals.
Council members asked operational questions. Councilman John London asked whether the foundation could identify the number of Irondale residents served; Baez said that data could be pulled from the foundation’s records but was not immediately available. Councilwoman Cuellar asked whether the foundation requires multiple estimates for plumbing repairs; Baez described an existing agreement with participating plumbers that requires pre‑ and post‑work photos and a signed agreement and said the foundation pays a maximum of $1,000, with the homeowner responsible for costs beyond that unless a plumber donates the difference as in‑kind service.
Councilor Vaux asked specifically whether plumbers sometimes provide in‑kind services for amounts above the foundation’s cap; Baez confirmed that occasional in‑kind arrangements exist and that the foundation works to build relationships with plumbers who will partner on reduced or donated services.
No formal action was taken at the meeting. Council members asked the foundation to provide further details and ZIP‑code breakdowns of past recipients so the council can consider whether to pursue a local program or partnership.
