Posted February 13, 2018 at 03:30 PM | Updated February 13, 2018 at 05:04 PM
Weekend gloom in black and white
Oregonian file photo
The Portland Water Bureau finally thinks it has a fix to a decades-long quest to make bill assistance more equitable.
By Molly Harbarger
The Oregonian | OregonLive
Portland water bureau officials think they have finally solved a brain teaser that has affected more than a thousand renters in Portland: How to help people living in apartment complexes afford their water bills, when those renters aren’t individually billed for their water?
The City Council voiced approval for a $600,000 outlay to established community nonprofits that would allow renters to access funds already set aside to offset water and sewer utility bills.
Behind-the-scenes of Portland's water sources
Thomas Boyd
Water and sewer utilities are managed by the city. For 20 years, low-income renters have had no help with those bills.
Renters in apartments and duplexes have been excluded from using that money for about 20 years. Multiple task forces and committees, commissioners' promises and media attention focused on the lack of equity for renters without producing answers.
But water bureau officials said Tuesday the solution is simple: Just give them cash.
Behind-the-scenes of Portland's water sources
Thomas Boyd
Portland Water Bureau officials want to provide low-income renters with cash who need help with their water and sewer bills.
Portland's longstanding water bill assistance program gives homeowners and renters of single-family homes who make 60 percent or less of median income and who request financial help a almost $150 discount on each quarterly water and sewer bill. That's about 50 percent of a what a typical low-income household owes, according to a recent audit that pointed out the problem.
But apartment renters were out of luck because the city couldn't figure out how much they owe for water since most apartment buildings have a single water meter and the cost of water is rolled into the price of rent.
Behind-the-scenes of Portland's water sources
Thomas Boyd
Portland Water Bureau officials want to provide low-income renters with cash who need help with their water and sewer bills.
There would no longer be a separate break on water bills just for those who rent or own single-family homes. In addition, the city would give the money to Multnomah County's Home Forward office.
Home Forward already distributes money to various nonprofits that help people with medical bills, a broken car, unexpected job loss or any other emergency pay their bills. The new water bureau funding would add to the pool of cash they could provide individuals in need.
Behind-the-scenes of Portland's water sources
Thomas Boyd
Homeowners and people who rent single-family homes have been able to get a discount on their water bill if they met low-income guidelines, but not people who don't have individual water meters.
The solution wouldn't be broad enough to apply to any low-income family who asked for it. It would target only people on the verge of eviction -- about 1,200 in 2016.
"Our focus is going to be people who are, but for this program, going to be on the street," City Commissioner Nick Fish, who oversees the utility bureaus, said.