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Goshen City residents experiencing economic hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic can apply for financial assistance to help pay for their water and sewer bills.
Goshen water and sewer utility customers facing shut-offs may qualify to receive up to $200 in financial assistance to help cover a total or partial payment. The City estimates there are over 400 households facing shut-offs due to being three or more months behind in paying their bills.
Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb placed a moratorium on evictions and utility shut-offs in March to help protect Hoosiers facing hardship due to the pandemic. The utility shut-off moratorium expires Aug. 14.
Residents behind on their utility payments by three months or more should contact the utilities office before Aug. 18 to begin the financial aid application process. This week, water and sewer utility office workers are placing calls to residents who may qualify for the program.
“We understand this is a time of economic uncertainty for many of our residents,” Mayor Jeremy Stutsman said. “We hope that this program, in combination with other local resources in our community, help bring relief to those in need of assistance.”
Helping with the task of counseling residents behind on their payments will be Lacasa. The City entered into an agreement with the local nonprofit, which will be in charge of verifying whether a resident qualifies to receive financial relief and walking the resident through the application process.
The counselor from Lacasa will also help connect customers with other known local resources that are providing additional COVID-19-related financial assistance.
Chris Kingsley, Lacasa president and CEO, said the organization is eager to work with the City to help guide residents in meeting their payment obligations.
“We believe that everyone should have a safe, stable home and partnering with the City of Goshen to provide utilities assistance is a tangible way we can work to deliver this outcome to many local families,” he said.
In addition to qualifying for financial assistance, residents also may have payment options to help pay their water and sewer utility bills in smaller increments. During this time, and through November 2020, households will not be charged late fees for delayed payments.
The water and sewer utilities financial assistance program is temporary and expires Sept. 30, 2020.
If you are behind on your water and sewer utility bills by three months or more, please call the utilities business office at 533-9399 immediately to apply for financial assistance.