Great Northern Services will have two assistance programs that can help with past-due water and wastewater bills available this year. The CDBG-CV Subsistence Program is available now and can help with up to $900 in utility costs. Clients who have larger past due amounts than the Subsistence Program can cover will be able to apply for the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) starting in May 2022.
LIHWAP will help income-qualified households with water and wastewater (sewer) arrearages. Applicants must have a past-due amount on a water or wastewater residential account to receive assistance. Income and eligibility guidelines are very similar to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program and clients who anticipate applying for LIHWAP are encouraged to apply for LIHEAP if they have not done so yet in 2022.
LIHWAP can help with one payment for either a water or wastewater bill, or for the water and wastewater charges on a bundled account. LIHWAP payments are made directly to the utility provider. (Clients who have their utilities included in their rent can apply if they are past due on rent and their landlord completes the Landlord/Management Agreement.) For GNS to provide a LIHWAP benefit to your household, your utility provider must be enrolled in the state-wide payment program. GNS is currently reaching out to utility providers to make sure they have all the information they need to enroll.
Applications and more information will be available in May 2022.
In the meantime:
- Apply for CDBG-CV Subsistence Program
- Apply for Energy Assistance (if you haven’t recently)
- Read the LIHWAP information from the state