Miami Dade to assist lower income residents in paying utility bills
From David Volz
Mami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava announced that the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) has received an additional $577,480 of federal Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) funds to assist 895 more customers in paying their water and sewer utility bills. The LIHWAP is a federally funded program managed by Florida Commerce to support low-income households in need.
“Reliable, safe drinking water is critical for our community,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “These funds ensure equitable access to an essential service for the thousands of families in our county that are struggling due to the high cost of living.”
In total, 17,234 WASD customers have received financial relief, with the County receiving more than $19.7 million of the $55 million awarded to the State of Florida through the federal program.
LIHWAP is a first-come, first-served program that provides much-needed relief to low-income families who spend a high proportion of their household income on water utility services. Florida Commerce has partnered with local Community Action Agencies throughout the state and Promise, a technology company with expertise in distributing government relief funds, to distribute the funds.
“Our department will continue to partner with agencies and investigate opportunities where we can secure financial assistance on behalf of our neighbors who need it the most,” said WASD Director Roy Coley. “The financial relief these allocations provide will help those in our community who need it most.”
