Lansing BWL, Community Partners to Hold Financial Pandemic Relief Fairs

The Lansing Board of Water & Light (BWL) and over a dozen local community partners will host two Financial Pandemic Relief Fairs on Tuesday and Wednesday to connect BWL residential customers and greater Lansing residents behind on bills to financial relief and community resources available to assist during the pandemic.

“The worst part of my job is shutting off power or water to a customer when they’re struggling to pay their bills,” said BWL General Manager Dick Peffley. “Even though our shut-off process is resuming in September, we’re doing absolutely everything we can to help our customers connect to information and financial relief available to them to avoid losing their service.”

The events are free, open to the public and no pre-registration is necessary. Masks will be required. The Financial Pandemic Relief Fairs will be held:

• Tuesday, Aug 31, 4-7pm, Gier Community Center, 2400 Hall St., Lansing
• Wednesday, Sept 1, 4-7pm, Alfreda Schmidt Community Center, 5825 Wise Rd., Lansing

“We have to work together to move our entire community forward while facing extreme challenges due to the pandemic,” said Lansing Mayor Andy Schor. “The upcoming Financial Pandemic Relief Fairs will be a one-stop shop for residents to learn about resources available for housing, utilities, financial education and more. Thank you to all of our community partners for continuing to support Lansing.”

A full list of community partners include:

• Lansing Board of Water & Light
• Greater Lansing Food Bank
• Capital Area United Way/VITA Program
• Capital Area Community Services
• Capital Area Housing Partnership
• Holy Cross Services
• Advent House
• Tri-County Office on Aging
• City of Lansing – Office of Financial Empowerment
• City of Lansing – Department of Neighborhoods and Citizen Engagement
• Michigan Department of Health and Human Service – Ingham County
• St. Vincent De Paul Society

Participants are recommended but not required to bring:

• Driver's license
• Social Security card
• Landlord's email address (if a renter)
• Copy of mortgage/lease
• Copy of late utilities
• Proof of current income

Over the last two years, the BWL has only done shut-offs for three of those months, and voluntarily extended the shut-off moratorium for five months beyond the State of Michigan’s requirements. BWL utility shut-offs due to non-pay will begin again Tuesday, September 7. Until the pandemic, an average month of past due balances at BWL was around $1 million, and that’s since grown to over $11 million during COVID-19.

For more information about the Financial Pandemic Relief Fairs and resources available, visit www.lbwl.com/shutoffprotection.