STATUS: Open

SERVICE AREA: Wayne County, Michigan, with some programs serving additional Southeast Michigan communities.

CLIENTS SERVED: Low-income individuals and families in Southeast Michigan.

DESCRIPTION: Wayne Metro Community Action Agency is a non-profit agency established to eliminate poverty and empower low to moderate income residents and communities across Wayne County, Michigan. As one of Michigan’s designated Community Action Agencies, Wayne Metro delivers over 100 programs focused on housing stability, basic needs, education, and economic mobility.

SERVICES & PROGRAMS:

• Water Assistance: Multiple programs can help households with water bills up to $3,000, including WRAP, water affordability assistance, and the DWSD Lifeline Plan. Applications open on Mondays at 9:00 am until capacity is reached. Service area and eligibility vary.
  • Water Bill: Provides direct payment assistance for current and past-due water bills, including households facing service shutoff or disconnection. Eligibility varies by program.
  • Plumbing Repairs: Provides minor in-home plumbing repairs that reduce water waste and improve efficiency, including repairs to water-conserving fixtures. Wayne Metro’s separate Emergency Plumbing Repair Program is currently at capacity.
  • WRAP Water Residential Assistance Program: A 2 year program that helps with current and past due water bill payments, home water audits, minor plumbing repairs, case management, and referrals for further assistance. Wrapfinity is a sub-program for clients who have compelted the 2 year WRAP program and have a household member age 62 years or older, or a disabled adult receiving federal benefits.
  • Conservation: Offers home water audits, installation of water-saving devices such as faucet aerators, low-flow showerheads, and efficient toilets, and education to help households reduce water usage and utility costs.
• Energy Assistance: The Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) helps low-income households manage heating and electricity costs, prevent utility shutoffs, and improve long-term energy affordability. Applicants must complete a pre-screening by calling 313-388-9799 (Option 3), or visit a Wayne Metro Client Service Center, or send your MEAP referral to Wayne Metro through MIBridges. Priority is given to households facing disconnection or including an adult age 60 or older, a person with a disability, or a child under age five. Assistance is subject to funding and appointment availability.
  • Utility Bill Assistance: Helps with heating and electricity expenses, including those facing shutoff or disconnection.
  • Affordable Payment Plans: Helps households enroll in utility provider payment plans.
• Weatherization: Helps eligible low-income homeowners and renters reduce energy costs and improve health and safety through home energy-efficiency improvements through a months long process. Weatherization is only available once every 15 years. Clients cannot qualify if their roof is damaged, or there are asbestos, active knob & tube wiring, visible mold, standing water in the basement, or missing windows/drywall. This is not an emergency program and does not include structural repairs (roofs, windows, doors), plumbing, or electrical repairs. Services do include:
  • Wall insulation
  • Attic insulation and ventilation
  • Foundation insulation
  • Air leakage reduction
  • Dryer venting installation
  • Free smoke detectors
  • Free carbon monoxide detectors
• Housing Stability & Counseling: Provides education and counseling related to budgeting, credit, landlord-tenant issues, homebuying, and housing stability.
• Homeless & Housing Services: Assistance for individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness, including supportive housing and connections to resources.
• Property Tax Assistance: Programs to help eligible Detroit homeowners and Wayne County residents with property-tax relief.
• Emergency Plumbing Repair: Provides assistance with qualifying plumbing emergencies. Currently at capacity and not accepting applications; applications may reopen if funding becomes available.
• Financial Coaching & Education: Free one-on-one financial counseling and educational programs to help residents address financial challenges and plan for the future.
• Employment Assistance: Paid job training, work-readiness programs, digital literacy, and employment coaching.
• Food Support: Food assistance and other supportive resources for eligible households.
• Veteran Support: Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) helps eligible veterans and their families access housing, benefits, transportation, child care, employment, and other services.
• Family & Youth Programs: Head Start/Early Head Start, after-school and summer programs, and family literacy services.
• Domestic Violence Services: Housing-stability assistance and other support for survivors of domestic violence.
• Transportation: Transportation-related services and resources, including the Michigan Activity Pass.

HOW TO APPLY: Apply through the Wayne Metro Universal Application or call the Connect Center at 313-388-9799 to be screened for multiple programs. The Connect Center can screen clients, answer questions, schedule appointments, and help navigate available resources. If  a specific program is not available when applying online, than that program is not accepting applications until further notice. Check the individual program pages to find out when applications will open again (weekly, monthly, indefinite, etc).