Cleveland water bill assistance.
The two main programs that can help Cleveland Ohio families pay their water and sewer bills are listed below. The resources available are the Homestead Program, which supports the vulnerable such as the disabled or elderly. There is also another discount resource available to some lower income families in Cuyahoga County, which is formally known as the Water Affordability Program. Both of these resources have the primary goal of reducing the number of water shut offs that may occur across the greater Cleveland area. Learn more on the programs below.
The Homestead Exemption Program is focused on helping seniors and the disabled in the community. There are some income limits in place that need to be met in addition to that criteria, so the primary beneficiaries will be the low income and working poor in the community.
This particular program can provide Cleveland renters and homeowners who are either over 65 years of age or disabled with reduced rates on their water as well as their sewer bills. This leads to a lower percentage of their income needing to go towards this expense, which can make a big difference in how they budget. The reduced rates can help qualified applicants save money on their water and sewer bills in the future, which should in effect reduce the number of residents who fall behind on payments. To learn more about the Homestead Program, dial 216.664.3130.
The Cleveland Water Department has other assistance programs for low income individuals, the working poor, unemployed, senior citizens, and those with an unexpected financial crisis or emergency. Another option to look into is the Affordability Program. This is another form of discount available in the city and greater Cuyahoga County area. It can offer up to a 20% discount on the customers entire water bill. Program eligibility will be based on the State of Ohio and federal government Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) requirements. The requirements will be based on a combination of household size and income.
For additional savings on your Cleveland water bill, qualified applicants can receive up to a 40% discount on their monthly water costs if the homeowner meets income guidelines as established by the city and the program. Applicants to the Affordability Program also need to be a homeowner, and of course they need to receive a water or sewer bill from City of Cleveland, Division of Water.
If you apply for this program and are accepted into it, qualifying homeowners will also need to have a water conservation kit installed in the home to conserve. It will in effect their total usage, which will help them even further reduce water bills in the future. This will help the household use less water, which is great for the customer as well as the nation at whole as it leads to conserving this natural resource.
How to get water bill help in Cleveland
To apply for this service, customers will need to complete an application and return it to Cleveland Housing Network, Water Affordability Program, 2999 Payne Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44114. Additional support or documentation may be requested by the city to determine if an applicant meets program terms.
If you have questions or would like further information, please contact the CHN Main HEAP office, which also deals with water and sewer bills, at 216-912-2211. They may also enter the struggling households into other payment type plans. To contact the Water Affordability Program, please call 216-774-2396 to speak to a representative.
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