There’s good news for Oxford Village residents who are behind on their water bills and struggling to catch up.

Last week, council voted 5-0 to participate in the Community Action Alliance Water Residential Assistance Program (WRAP).

The program, funded by the Great Lakes Water Authority, provides eligible low-income residents with up to $1,000 per household per year in financial assistance to help pay water bills.

It was village Clerk Susan Nassar who brought WRAP to council’s attention and suggested the municipality sign up.

“I feel this is a very beneficial program,” she said. “We have some (residents who) are struggling very hard. It’s not just seniors, either. It’s young families. It’s some singles. And it’s not just houses. It’s people in apartments. It hits everyone.”

Nassar estimated eight to 10 percent of village water customers “are at least three months behind” on their bills.

There are 1,347 water meters in the village.

Under WRAP, a water customer’s arrearages are frozen for 12 months or until the resident exits the program.

During that time, he or she incurs no interest or penalties.

WRAP then pays up to $700 of their overdue water bills.

However, as part of the program, participants are obligated to keep up with their current water bills, for which WRAP pays $25 per month, a total of $300 for the year.

If a WRAP participant misses two payments, they are dropped from the program and once again, fully responsible for current and past due bills.

Currently, whenever a village water customer owes six months or more in past due utility bills, the amount is added to their property tax bill as a special assessment.

Nassar noted keeping track of WRAP participants will be “more work” for her.

“But I’m willing to do that to help our residents,” she said.

To be eligible for WRAP, a resident must have an annual income at or below 150 percent of the poverty threshold.

For a single-person household, the income level is $17,805. For a household of two, it’s $24,030.

For a three-person household, the income level is $30,240. For a household of four, it’s $36,450. For a family of five, the level is $42,660.

To learn more about WRAP, call (313) 386-9727 or visit the program’s website at www.waynemetro.org/wrap.