Over 8,000 homes were slated for possible water shut-off due to unpaid bills; DEP estimates that over half of these homeowners have responded to DEP outreach and have paid in full, negotiated a payment plan, or made a partial payment. The offer for single-family homeowners to enter into a Payment Incentive Plan - which includes a potential reduction of the balance and waiving of late fees - has been extended to April 22.
However, homeowners who have not come forward to address their water bill arrears, they still face water service termination. DEP has sent the first batch of 15-day termination notices, and plans to send notices every week, in batches of about 50. Once water service has been shut off, the homeowner must pay the balance in full, plus late fees, and an additional $500 to restart service.
If your organization works with elderly or disabled homeowners, DEP may be able to stop service termination and make alternative payment arrangements. Similarly, if you have clients who are in foreclosure or are struggling with mortgage payments, DEP may be flexible in negotiating payment plans, and may be willing to put the termination of service on hold. The following are contact numbers for DEP that community groups can use to assist their members or clients:
DEP General Customer Information: 718.595.7000
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For individuals with problems/disputes with their bill, contact the Ombuds Unit at: 718.595.OMBU (6628), or ombuds@dep.nyc.gov.
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For the Safety Net Referral Process (for elderly or disabled clients, or clients in or facing foreclosure) community groups may contact: Vincent Mattarella at 718.595.6024 or vincentm@dep.nyc.gov.
6,000 Single-Family Homes in Danger of Water Shut-Off Unless Homeowners Act Quickly!
WHAT'S THE STORY?
The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has recently implemented a plan to shut off water service for certain single-family homes that are delinquent on their water bills. This is a new tactic to try to collect water bills that are more than a year overdue and amount to at least $1,000. There are over 6,000 single-family homes slated for possible water shut-off in the coming months, with many of these properties concentrated in communities of color - those same neighborhoods already at the center of the foreclosure crisis.
WHAT CAN BE DONE?
DEP is offering these homeowners a one-time affordable payment plan, called the Payment Incentive Plan, to avoid service termination and to bring them back into good standing. This offer originally expired on February 21; the deadline has now been extended until April 21. According to DEP, few of the households currently delinquent on their water bills have taken advantage of this offer. Termination of water service would be a serious public health risk for these families.
HELP SPREAD THE WORD!
Community groups are advised to alert and assist single-family homeowners more than a year delinquent on water bills to contact DEP immediately to sign up for a payment plan. If your organization is interested in getting involved in addressing this issue, please contact NEDAP via email. Areas with high concentrations of potential shut-offs include Jamaica, Queens; Wakefield and Williamsbridge in the Bronx; Mill Basin and Canarsie in Brooklyn; and much of Staten Island. For more information about DEP's Payment Incentive Plan, call their customer service line at 718-595-7000 or visit: www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/water_and_sewer_bills/pip.shtml.
Click here for a pdf of this alert.
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NEDAP is a resource and advocacy center for community groups in New York City.
Our mission is to promote community economic justice and to eliminate discriminatory economic practices that harm communities and perpetuate inequality and poverty.
