‘Tis the season, the non-crisis season as far as the Department of Human Services is concerned. From June 1st to October 31st, low-income families in Washtenaw County will not be able to request assistance from DHS to prevent utility shut off.
As one of only a few agencies in the county that families can turn to during this time period, Friends In Deed’s assistance is crucial; and thanks to agencies like the United Way of Washtenaw County, we are helping families keep their refrigerators cooling, their lights burning, their water flowing and their fans blowing.
In 2015, the United Way of Washtenaw County awarded Friends In Deed a $2,000 grant from their Basic Needs Fund in support of Utility Assistance. The grant monies were specifically earmarked for use from June through October of 2016 to help families who won’t be able to get help elsewhere. That’s because the United Way commits itself to “improving people’s lives through programs, initiatives and strategies that create measurable and lasting change.”