Lee County commissioners accept $2.8M to assist low-income households’ water costs

The Lee Board of County Commissioners has voted to accept about $2.8 million to help low-income households with the cost of water and wastewater.

The money comes from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity for the Low Income Home Water Assistance Program.

According to Lee County, the money will be used through Sept. 2023 to help prevent water service disconnections and pay past-due water or wastewater bills for households through the county that fall below 150% of the federal poverty level. The county says for a family of four, the maximum annual household income to be eligible for assistance is $48,646.

The county estimates it will be able to help about 3,790 households with the money.

In addition to the more than $2 million accepted by the board of commissioners for water assistance on Tuesday, the board voted to accept an additional $1 million from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program to assist households with electric costs.

That money will go to an existing program, which the county expects will help as many as 1,950 households.

If you believe you are eligible for financial assistance from the county, you can apply for assistance beginning on August 15.

To apply, you can pick up a paper application at Lee County Human & Veteran Services at 2440 Thompson St. in Fort Myers or by clicking here. The website also outlines the requirements to be eligible for aid from the county.