We believe it's incredibly important to be transparent about how donations are spent. To that end, we've published water bill payment data from January 1, 2017 to current day. This information is updated at a minimum weekly.
The Human Utility provided water bill assistance starting in July 2014. But, our records are 100% complete (with full receipts, accompanying bank statements, etc.) from January 1, 2017 onward.
Originally, we directed donors to utility websites to pay on behalf of customers we assigned them. We did not directly handle funds. But, we were not always sent receipts when payments were made that way. Data inclusive of that period—including the total number of households assisted and total assistance provided—are approximate. Data provided below, however, are verifiable via receipt. Receipts are not provided here due to the presence of personally identifying information (PII) such as names, addresses, account numbers, and/or phone numbers.
Total assistance provided is impacted by the following conditions: (a) how quickly applicants provide required documentation for their application, (b) how quickly utilities verify amounts needed for customers, (c) time of year/season, (d) total application volume, (e) status of local water shut-off moratoriums, and (f) macroeconomic conditions. These conditions vary from one applicant, one utility, one state, and/or one year to the next and are not under The Human Utility's control.
Asterisks (*) denote rounded-up totals. We round up to protect the privacy of any household which was the only one provided assistance in a particular location.
Finally, if you are a member of the media and would like to speak to families we've assisted, reach out via press@humanutility.org.
Data for 2021, 2022, and 2023 forthcoming.
| City | State | Households Assisted | Total Assistance Provided |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | FL | 23 | $9,645.36 |
| Hialeah | FL | 4 | $2,234.51 |
| Cutler Bay | FL | 4 | $1,844.03 |
| Homestead | FL | 1 | $540.00* |
| North Miami Beach | FL | 1 | $360.00* |
| Port St. Lucie | FL | 1 | $160.00* |
| Florida City | FL | 1 | $160.00* |
| Baltimore | MD | 45 | $16,341.10 |
| Columbia | MD | 1 | $500.00* |
| Detroit | MI | 199 | $83,481.88 |
| Oak Park | MI | 8 | $3,196.98 |
| Roseville | MI | 8 | $3,270.61 |
| Eastpointe | MI | 7 | $2,776.55 |
| Ferndale | MI | 4 | $2,075.78 |
| Inkster | MI | 6 | $1,920.82 |
| Lincoln Park | MI | 4 | $1,506.49 |
| Redford | MI | 3 | $1,171.02 |
| Highland Park | MI | 2 | $905.47 |
| Dearborn | MI | 4 | $1,686.80 |
| Pontiac | MI | 8 | $4,812.13 |
| Ecorse | MI | 3 | $875.75 |
| Livonia | MI | 2 | $467.29 |
| Sterling Heights | MI | 1 | $400.00* |
| Center Line | MI | 1 | $300.00* |
| St. Clair Shores | MI | 1 | $385.00* |
| Mount Clemens | MI | 1 | $380.00* |
| River Rouge | MI | 1 | $330.00* |
| Belleville | MI | 1 | $309.00* |
| Hamtramck | MI | 1 | $200.00* |
| Taylor | MI | 1 | $160.00* |
| Harper Woods | MI | 1 | $140.00* |
| Totals | 349 | Approx. $142,846.47 |
| City | State | Households Assisted | Total Assistance Provided |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | MD | 28 | $8,088.95 |
| Cockeysville | MD | 1 | $210.00* |
| Detroit | MI | 217 | $73,251.68 |
| Oak Park | MI | 4 | $1,631.14 |
| Ecorse | MI | 1 | $905.00* |
| Dearborn Heights | MI | 3 | $829.50 |
| Warren | MI | 3 | $797.36 |
| Lincoln Park | MI | 2 | $509.85 |
| Clinton Township | MI | 2 | $505.88 |
| Romulus | MI | 1 | $485.00* |
| Hazel Park | MI | 2 | $343.78 |
| Dearborn | MI | 1 | $325.00* |
| Harper Woods | MI | 1 | $270.00* |
| Port Huron | MI | 1 | $225.00* |
| Pontiac | MI | 1 | $200.00* |
| Taylor | MI | 1 | $175.00* |
| Farmington Hills | MI | 1 | $320.00* |
| Cadillac | MI | 1 | $240.00* |
| Redford | MI | 1 | $275.00* |
| Totals | 269 | Approx. $89,588.14 |
| City | State | Households Assisted | Total Assistance Provided |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | MD | 24 | $9,996.78 |
| Capital Heights | MD | 1 | $200.00* |
| Detroit | MI | 86 | $68,466.50 |
| Oak Park | MI | 3 | $980.90 |
| Eastpointe | MI | 5 | $1,709.60 |
| Romulus | MI | 1 | $530.00* |
| Harper Woods | MI | 1 | $350.00* |
| St. Clair Shores | MI | 1 | $310.00* |
| Port Huron | MI | 1 | $275.00* |
| Warren | MI | 1 | $210.00* |
| Ironwood | MI | 1 | $205.00* |
| New Haven | MI | 1 | $195.00* |
| Ecorse | MI | 1 | $165.00* |
| Cadillac | MI | 1 | $145.00* |
| Totals | 127 | Approx. $83,738.78 |
| City | State | Households Assisted | Total Assistance Provided |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | MD | 55 | $32,919.25 |
| Detroit | MI | 192 | $84,462.53 |
| Eastpointe | MI | 5 | $4,198.66 |
| Roseville | MI | 3 | $1,977.04 |
| Warren | MI | 3 | $1,127.03 |
| St. Clair Shores | MI | 3 | $1,124.14 |
| Romulus | MI | 2 | $911.06 |
| Redford | MI | 1 | $785.00* |
| Livonia | MI | 1 | $580.00* |
| Harper Woods | MI | 1 | $515.00* |
| Sterling Heights | MI | 1 | $460.00* |
| Inkster | MI | 1 | $325.00* |
| Hamtramck | MI | 1 | $150.00* |
| Totals | 269 | Approx. $129,534.71 |