The Water Residential Assistance Program (WRAP) is a two-year program that provides funding to eligible, low-income homeowners to assist with water bills, water conservation, and self-sufficiency initiatives. We have had the pleasure of serving the people of our community through this program and we want to share their stories. The following testimonial is from WRAP Client and Detroit resident Carolyn Larkins.
“In 2012 I lost my job, and I needed immediate help to pay my rent. To make matters worse, I contacted a local non-profit agency and was told that they had no funding available. The same agency then referred me to Wayne Metro. From my initial appointment with Wayne Metro, I felt at ease and received assistance to pay my back rent within a short period of time. I contacted Wayne Metro for additional help in 2018 when I had a major sewer backup in the basement of my new home. I had just been released from the hospital after receiving cancer treatments, and to find standing water in my home was overwhelming.
After I notified the Agency and explained my problem, their staff jumped right in to help me resolve the issue. During the time my sewer was being repaired, new pipes and faucets were installed, and all of the water leakage problems were fixed. At the beginning of the 2021 New Year, Wayne Metro replaced my hot water tank, which was damaged due to all of the previous water issues. Wayne Metro has taken such a heavy load off of my shoulders. It is very difficult to deal with health challenges while trying to make repairs to your home.
I appreciate the Agency for taking care of the things that I simply could not handle, plus, I didn’t have the money to pay for the work that needed to be done. I no longer worry about what type of problem I will find once I go into the basement. I can now go into my bathroom and flush the toilet. Also, I can take a bath or shower with hot water. I love that I can wash my dishes without having to boil water.
You couldn’t imagine how much of a strain it can be trying to function without water. Before receiving help from Wayne Metro, I felt like a train was on my back, and now the train has moved onto another station. The Agency helped me to pay down my $3,000 water bill, and instead of my monthly bill being $140 and higher, it is now only $46 per month or lower, which is very affordable. I always sing Wayne Metro’s praises to every person that I come in contact with. Wayne Metro’s Basic Needs Manager, Staci White, and the workers that came to my home to make the repairs were always kind, respectful, professional, and treated me with dignity and respect.”