County commission accepts water utility assistance funding
The Lee County Board of County Commissioners voted on Aug. 2 to accept about $2.8 million from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity for the Low Income Home Water Assistance Program to assist households with water and wastewater costs.
The funds will be used through September 2023 to assist households countywide — including those in municipalities — to prevent disconnection of service. The program will help with past-due water and/or wastewater bills for households with an income at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level. For example, the maximum annual household income to be eligible for assistance is $48,646 for a family of four. County staff estimates about 3,790 households will be helped by the new program.
Also on Aug. 2, commissioners voted to accept about $1 million in additional funding from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program to assist households with electric costs or to prevent disconnections of electric services.
It is an existing and ongoing program, but with the additional approved dollars, staff estimates about 1,950 households will receive assistance. Qualifying households must have an income at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level and must have not received Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program assistance in the past 12 months.
For both programs, the funds are available due to the American Rescue Plan Act.
Beginning on Aug. 15, people can begin applying in two ways:
– Online at www.leegov.com/dhs/assistance/financial
– Pick up a paper application at the Lee County Human & Veteran Services, at 2440 Thompson St., Fort Myers. Weather-proof bins on the building’s exterior hold the applications, and a secured drop-box is available for those who would like to return applications without having to mail them.