City of Gresham utility bill assistance program.

Residents of the City of Gresham, who are facing a short term financial hardship, can get help paying their energy bills from the City of Gresham utility bill assistance program. Not only can the city use donations to pay heating, light, gas, or other bills, but the Helping Hands program will also pay for garbage and/or sewer bills. Therefore multiple types of utility bills can be paid, depending on funding and applicant qualifications for financial aid.

There is no guarantee to receiving any form of financial aid from the city. Rather each and every application is assessed on a one off basis, and any funds paid out are limited. The City resource is very limited as it depends on donations from the public and the annual city budget. Usually maybe only hundreds of residents are assisted each year, but one again the applications are all looked at individuals by city employees. However anyone can apply for energy bill help, regardless of age, gender, race, religion, or some other factor.

Applying for assistance in Gresham Oregon

This is only for city residents who have an income at or below 150% of federal government poverty levels. They also of course need to have utility service (electric or water or garbage) from the city of Gresham and it is only for residential accounts – not commercial properties. Apartments and homes are both eligible to apply.

As noted, Helping Hands as well as City resources do use donations. This means funds are very limited. It also means that anyone can contribute at any time – call the city customer support team to contribute. Any dollar amount of donation is needed and 100% of it goes to help low income customers.

But since the funds are limited, struggling, low income families can only apply once every 6 months for utility bill assistance. This is not a long term, repetitive resource. Also, it is one time, non-repetitive (except only 6 months). Tenants as well as homeowners, who live in the city and get their utility or water service from the city, can both apply. Renters and homeowners get aid.

 

 

Discounts on utility bills

Obviously the financial help for utility bills, whether water or electric, is limited. There may be some discounts or payment plans available too. The biggest one is for Stormwater, which is also for residential customers. However even if behind on other utility bills, customers still should call the city for options.

Even if a discount is not available, or if donations are not available or the customer does not qualify for energy bill help, then referrals may be given to other state or federal government options. Some of those include LIHEAP for paying energy or heating bills as well as weatherization, which is a free conservation measure.

Apply

There is an Utilities Division that handles these requests. The address is 1333 NW Eastman Parkway, Gresham, OR  97030, and City of Gresham customers have this option. There is also a non-profit known as Human Solutions. That phone number is 503-405-7875. Both organizations may be able to provide help or information on applying (or donating to) these utility and water assistance programs.