Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program funds being distributed locally by NDO

The Department of Family and Children Services has launched a new program to assist families with water bills.

The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program, administered by the local Community Action Agencies, became available on November 15.

This federally funded program assists low-income households with past due water bills through direct payments to their home water suppliers.

Assistance will be provided to Georgia residents through the local Community Action Agencies in three phases.

Phase I will run from November 15 through December 31, 2021 and is available to families with past due water bill arrearages.

Phase II will begin January 1, 2022, and is available to households with elderly members, ages 60 and older, or with members with children five years of age and younger.

And Phase III will begin on February 1, 2022 and is available to all other eligible residents.

For Stephens County, Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program funds will be administered through Ninth District Opportunity until all funds are exhausted.

To qualify for the program, a family’s annual income must be less than or equal to 60 percent of the median income for a Georgia family.

For a household of one, the income threshold is $26,474; the income threshold for a household of five is $59,057.

Local families seeking assistance must contact the Ninth District Opportunity during the appropriate priority period.

All applicants must provide their most recent water bill or statement of service from their water service providers; social security numbers for each member of the household; proof of citizenship for each member of the household; proof of income for the last 30 days for each adult member of the household; proof of income can include, but is not limited to, a paycheck stub or a letter granting public assistance; and, social security or unemployment benefits for all household members, if applicable.

For more information on the program visit georgiacaa.org.