From a former colleague:
I’ve become involved with the Wayne Metro Community Action Agency & learned that they are coordinating the monies available for Detroit residents in need of utility assistance.
You may be aware of the money available but if not, Kevin Kinney (kkinney@waynemetro.org) can help. He told me you can call him directly at 734 955-6752.
I hope this is useful to you
Susan Powers
Early Learning Resource Center Coordinator
Starfish Family Services
(734) 728-3400 ext 3161
Thanks to Kristen Whiston, WSU SSW Intern @ Hannan House, for compiling the eligibility information for THAW.
Eligibility for THAW
Valid Michigan drivers License or State I.D.
Account must be in the applicant’s name and he/she must live at the service address.
Account must be residential, not commercial.
Account must have a past due balance, shut off notice, disconnected service, or have an immediate need for deliverable fuel.
Account balance cannot exceed $4000 for combined acounts or $2000 for single accounts
A bill/invoice is required for deliverable fuel vendors.
If currently in shut-off status, applicant must obtain a State Emergency Relief (SER) “Decision Notice” from Michigan Department of Human Services (except seniors).
Applicant must have paid $225 on single/$450 on combined accounts within the past six months.
Applicant must pay unauthorized usage charges.
Proof of household income is required. Households with zero income are not eligible.
Income Requirements
To be eligible for THAW assistance income must be at or below 200% of the current Federal Poverty Level (see chart below).
Family Size/Income
1 Person/$22,340
2 Person/$30,260
3 Person/$38,180
4 Person/$46,100
5 Person/$54,020
6 Person/$61,940
Metro Detroit Interfaith Warmth
Metro Detroit Interfaith Warmth is an educational program that is designed to educate everyone at our congregations about what is available to help keep people warm this winter. Looking at warmth from three different avenues to help make sure people have the tools to stay warm this winter. 1. Utility assistance 2. Energy Efficiency and 3.Weatherization with state and federal funds available for all 3 to provide discounted if not free services. Until now this information hasn’t been compiled in an easily accessible way that we can share to help keep people warm.
The next step is to work with individual congregations to figure out the best strategy to get this information out. This can be through sermons, presentations, workshops or just having the information available where services are provided. I am here to work with all of you to provide assistance and work with you in whatever way you see fit. Please check out www.metrodetroitinterfaithwarmth.com if you know of other programs beyond this please let me know.
Hope all is well and feel free to contact me with any questions, connect me with people you think I should meet or have information that would be useful to the site as I see this as a community resource.
Thanks,
Joe Rashid
Energy Education Coordinator
Interfaith Leadership Council
www.metrodetroitinterfaithwarmth.com
DTE WILL HOLD A ONE DAY SESSION FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED HELP PAYING THEIR MONTHLY
DTE BILLS: PLEASE BRING ALL BILLS THAT ARE IN THE REARS.
DTE SESSIONS WILL BE HELD THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012, 8AM TO 4PM AT THE
FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:
NEW PROSPECT MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
6330 PEMBROOK @ LIVERNOIS
PERFECTING CHURCH
17950 VAN DYKE @ NEVADA
Please contact Customer Service at 800.477.4747
Forwarded by Midtown Alliance
And by Central District Police/Community Relations Council
Per Leslie Malcolmson
DWSD WARNS OF UTILITY BILL PAYMENT SCAM
The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) is warning its customers to be alert to a bill payment scam that is affecting utility customers across the country. The scammers are claiming that President Obama will pay customers’ utility bills through a new federal program. That claim is false, and fraudulent.
According to the Better Business Bureau, utility customers have been contacted in person, through fliers, through social media, and via text messages with claims that President Obama can provide credits or apply payments to their bills. The scammers then direct the customers to send their Social Security and bank routing numbers. In return, customers are given a false bank routing number that will supposedly pay their utility bills.
In truth, there is no money in the “program,” and customers believe they’ve paid their bills, when in fact, they have not.
DWSD has posted an alert on its website at www.dwsd.org, urging customers not to participate in the scam. Moreover, DWSD officials advise customers not to provide any personal, confidential information to people who claim to be affiliated with a presidential program that pays utility bills. Customers also should keep records of payment verification, and should never assume a pending payment has been accepted until the payment is verified with the customer account number.
For more information on the utility bill payment scam, visit the Better Business Bureau’s website at www.bbb.org/us/article/president-obama-is-not-offering-to-pay-your-utility-bills-34928.
DWSD supplies high-quality drinking water to Detroit and 126 other communities in southeast Michigan. The Department provides wastewater services to Detroit and 76 other southeast Michigan communities.
Forwarded by Midtown Alliance
And by Central District Police/Community Relations Council
Per Leslie Malcolmson
From Catrina:
Below is some updated information regarding DTE assistance for individuals that are having difficulty with their account.
DTE has a new program that will start October 1, 2012. The program is Low Income Self-Sufficiency Program (LSP). The program is done according to income and each person’s payment would be calculated on an individualized basis. The payments are supposed to be very low, BUT unfortunately we cannot tell any client about the program because they feel they will have an overwhelming amount of calls. They will be identifying customers for the program. The number is 800-317-9073.
Only agencies may contact this number 866-200-0386 8:00 am-4:30pm to clarify a client’s account and request a 10 day hold on the account. An email can be sent to agencies_info@dteenergy.com to request a “HOLD”. The client is responsible for contacting billing to discuss payment arrangements. If the agency is making a request provide the following: Clients, name, address, account number.
Note: A client may contact their doctor and request a letter for a 21 day Medical Hold letter which should outline the nature of their medical condition, why they need their utilities, name, address, city, state, zip code and telephone number and submit to DTE.
If any questions please feel free to let me know,
Respectively,
Catrina Social Work Intern
Useful for family or friends of residents/members. The City of Detroit offers a solid waste discount to Homeowners who are 65 years or older and have an household income below $40,000. There’s a deadline of September 15. See attached application.
DTE Energy and the Accounting Aid Society of Detroit are providing assistance for filing the Home Heating Credit. The Accounting Aid Society covers Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Livingston Counties.
The deadline is September 30, 2012!
Click here for more information on how to get help filing the Home Heating Credit!
If you are able to work with your client directly, you can access the instruction booklet here and the HHC tax form here
If you have any questions please call the MiCAFE Call Center Monday – Thursday 9:00 am – 3:00 pm at 1-877-664-2233.
Want to know how to ___ using the Assure phone?
See the quick tips below, print them out, or download the entire manual.
Assure Wireless Phone Quick Tips
How to Check your Balance
You can check your remaining minutes by:
• From the main screen, scroll up.
• From the main menu, select My Account.
Your account information appears. When your account is low or empty, you receive a notification to “Top-Up.” Note: Additional charges may apply for multiple balance checks in one day.
How to Add Minutes or “Top-Up” your Account
Top-Up is how you add money to your AssuranceWireless account. You can Top-Up your Assurance Wireless account right from your phone. You can either buy a Top-Up card from one of the thousands of retailers that carry them, or you can register your debit card, credit card, or PayPal account at www.assurancewireless.com. Note: You cannot register a debit or credit card from your phone; you must register it online first. After you have the card registered, when your balance is low, you can Top-Up your Assurance Wireless account from your phone.
Top-Up with a Top-Up Card
1. From the main menu, select My Account.
2. Scroll down to the Top-Up link and press the OK key.
3. Enter your Account PIN and select Done.
4. Scroll down to select Login and press the OK key.
5. Enter your Top-Up card’s PIN number and press the OK key.
6. Scroll down to select Top-Up Now and press the OK key.
7. You are now Topped-Up. Press the End key to exit.
Top-Up with a Debit Card, Credit Card, or PayPal Account
1. From the main menu, select My Account.
2. Scroll down to the Top-Up link and press the OK key.
3. Enter your Account PIN and select Done.
4. Scroll down to select Login and press the OK key.
5. Scroll down to select either Credit Card or PayPal and press the OK key.
6. Enter the amount you want to Top-Up and press the OK key. You can Top-Up in amounts of $20, $30, $50, or $90.
7. Scroll down to select Top-Up Now and press the OK key.
8. You are now Topped-Up. Press the End key to exit.
Note: You can also Top-Up over the Web at www.assurancewireless.com.
Change Ringtone Volume
1. From Ringtone volume, scroll right or left to set the ringer volume.
2. Select Save.
Enable Smart Volume
From Sounds, select Smart volume > Enabled to automatically adjust the volume during a call, based on surrounding noise levels.
Add Contacts
1. From the home screen, enter a phone number to save (include the area code).
2. Select Save > Save new contact.
3. Enter a name for the contact.
4. Enter additional phone numbers, email addresses, and other contact details.
(Scroll up or down to move through the contact fields.)
5. When done, select Save.
Set Up your Voicemail
Before your phone can receive voicemail messages, you must set up a 4-10 digit passcode and record a personal voicemail greeting. When you have set up your voicemail, all unanswered calls to your phone are automatically transferred to voicemail, even if your phone is in use or turned off.
1. Press and hold the 1 key.
2. Follow the system prompts to create a password and record a greeting.
Check your Voicemail
When you receive a voicemail message, a notification with a voicemail message icon appears at the top of your screen.
Unable to Send Messages?
You may not be able to send or receive messages if your phone’s memory is nearly full, or if digital service is not available at the time. To free up memory, erase old messages.
Erase Messages
When viewing a received message, select
Options > Erase > Yes.
Note: You can erase a scheduled message, but cannot cancel its delivery.
Visit www.assurancewireless.com for more details.
You can also check out www.assurancewireless.com for more details.
DTE has an AGENCY ONLY phone number for us to use when calling our clients. It’s not to be shared with clients. The phone number is 866-200-0386.
