City Launches Financial Assistance For Utility Customers In Gresham

Press release from the City of Gresham:

February 2, 2021

Starting February 8, the City will offer additional financial assistance for utility bills, and new assistance for garbage bills for eligible customers experiencing hardships due to COVID-19. Gresham City Council directed that a total of $580,000 should be reserved for utility assistance from the City’s allocation of federal Community Development Block Grant (CBDG) CARES Act funds. These funds can be used by local governments to respond to the effects of COVID-19 and are available in addition to the City’s existing utility customer assistance program.

“We know that many in our community have faced tremendous hardships and struggles in the past nine months,” said Mayor Travis Stovall. “And, while we’re thankful we’re able to provide these funds to our community, we know the need remains high. I will continue to advocate for a direct path for the City to receive additional federal funds as we begin the road to recovery from the pandemic."

Customers must have an existing garbage billing account through one of Gresham’s haulers, and/or receive utility services from the City to qualify. Assistance applies to single-family residences. The program is targeted towards households making 60% of median family income or less. Some exceptions to these requirements may be considered. Assistance can pay for past due account balances dating back to April 1, 2020. The amount of assistance available to households will vary.

If the need for assistance exceeds the funds that are available, qualified applications received February 8-18 will be prioritized for funding, and will be selected randomly through a lottery process. Customers can apply online at GreshamOregon.gov/Utility-Financial-Assistance. For those without access to a computer, paper applications will be available via contactless pick up outside of City Hall, at 1333 NW Eastman Parkway. The application will be available in English, Spanish and Russian. Customers may request additional translation or interpretation, or ask questions about the program, at 503-618-2373 (choose option 6 from the menu) or UtilityAssistance@GreshamOregon.gov.

Since the start of the pandemic, the City has prioritized helping the community whenever possible, as quickly as possible. The City launched one of the first small business grant programs in the region, which expanded into two additional rounds of funding; directly called 3,000 senior residents and arranged for medications or other essential supplies; and protected local restaurants from onerous delivery fees.

This press release was produced by the City of Gresham . The views expressed here are the author’s own.