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Detroit water chief says Lifeline H2O program will run out of money within weeks
Summary
Detroit Water & Sewer Department Director Gary Brown told the Budget Finance & Audit committee that the Lifeline H2O affordability program has $3.5 million—enough for roughly 4,500 customers—and that existing enrollment and recertification will exhaust available funds within about 30 days unless the city or state secures more money.
Detroit Water and Sewer Department Director Gary Brown told the City Council’s Budget Finance and Audit Standing Committee on March 4 that the local Lifeline H2O affordability program faces an immediate funding shortfall and could exhaust its available enrollment slots within weeks.
Brown said Lifeline originally helped about 28,000–30,000 households when it was funded with ARPA and other state sources. “We had 28,000 households in the program, and we paid off their arrears and gave them a fresh start,” he said. He added that Lifeline is built on three components—arrears relief, an income‑based affordable bill, and plumbing repairs to fix leaks—and that the department defines affordability as 1.8% of household income.
Today, Brown said, the program has $3,500,000 in outside funding (including a GLWA contribution) and can serve roughly 4,500 customers; DWSD currently has about 3,200…
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