Thousands of Flint Residents Are Facing Foreclosure Over Unpaid Water Bills
Flint is issuing a tax lien warning to thousands of residents, threatening that they could lose their homes if they don't pay their water bills. It's estimated that at least 8,000 homeowners in the Flint area have been put on notice that they are at risk of foreclosure.
When the water crisis occurred, the Michigan state legislature decided to give out subsidies to residents in the Flint area for their water bills. However, those subsidies have come to an end when they were cut off over a month ago back in February of this year. They were cut off after officials from the state declared that water in Flint is now safe for drinking and using as it allegedly meets the federal guidelines.
Flint officials had previously agreed to fund water bill subsidies for about two-thirds of residents in the area, they allegedly spent about $40 million over the course of one year, and they think this is a just refund for contaminated water service dating back several years to 2014.
According to the state, they've conducted a number of tests and they say that their April test showed the Flint water to be below the federal threshold for the 8th month in a row. But many people living in the area are still cautious and they aren't willing to rush toward believing officials on the matter just yet. After all, many of them still point the finger of blame at their officials for this problem occurring in the first place.
A number of families and other individuals are still using bottled water for a variety of their daily activities, those who do use the local water for showers say that they are trying to limit their exposure as much as they can.
It would be nice if the residents had some market competition available, so that they could opt for going for another water service; one that they maybe trusted more than the city at this time. But that option isn't available to them, they are forced to be a utility customer and they are forced to only get that water from one place.
They are left with the only option of having to pay for something that they don't trust is safe for them, with something that they believe is contaminated. It is no surprise that they wouldn't trust it considering that it has been previously shown to be contaminated and just recently played a big role in causing many people to get sick.
Even Flint officials continue to recommend that residents in the area opt for using filters on their faucets.
Tens of millions of dollars have been donated toward helping bring a solution to the water issue in Flint. As well as millions of dollars in donations in the way of bottled water to residents in the area. And the problem is still far from over as it could still take several more years before the pipes are properly fixed.
Flint has received at least $100 million dollars from the EPA and others in order to address this issue, but yet city officials there are coming after residents threatening to take their homes away for debts around $1,000? It's a shame that the city really thinks it is fair and wise to try and force people to pay for something that they don't trust and which has already caused them harm.
There is already a deep distrust that remains with many of the residents in the area and this action isn't going to make things any better between the people and city officials there.
Pics:
Mlive
ClickOnDetroit
WXYZ
Sources:
http://www.thefader.com/2017/05/03/report-city-of-flint-is-threatening-8000-homeowners-with-foreclosure-over-unpaid-water-bills
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/flint-water-crisis-thousands-face-losing-homes-taxes-bills-a7716311.html
http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2017/05/state_says_eight_straight_test.html
http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2017/05/mayor_calls_deq_officials_flin.html
https://www.fastcompany.com/40411295/the-flint-water-crisis-is-far-from-over-time-to-get-them-new-pipes
https://steemit.com/government/@doitvoluntarily/flint-water-crisis-deep-distrust-remains-of-government-and-water-supply
https://steemit.com/health/@doitvoluntarily/lead-poisoning-found-to-be-higher-among-children-in-california-than-flint
http://www.npr.org/2017/04/25/525516761/3-years-after-lead-crisis-flint-residents-still-need-water-filters
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/03/01/517932477/michigan-ends-water-subsidies-to-flint-despite-mayors-opposition
nice post ! Upvoted and resteemed !!
Flint just needs to be abandoned. At some point, the people living there need to just say "You know what? I bet there are better places in the country." They'd be right, after all.
you are right, there are better places that would have clean water for them. And there are some folks who have made that decision already to leave their home, but of course it's not as easy for everyone to uproot their entire life sometimes, given the difficulty posed both financially and emotionally with ties to the community etc. terrible situation for them to be in
I don't disagree, but when things come to a head a decision eventually has to be made. Much like having cancer; if you're a much older person, sometimes that decision is "Should I even bother with treatment at my age?"
it is even harder to make a decision when you are being/have been lied to by multiple sources on the matter lol
great article buddy. thanks for sharing!
When as a customer we pay for goods, we expect to receive something that is in perfect working order and safe. Flint water does not fulfil this criteria. The government should fix the problem and then they can charge for usage and consumption not before.
That they expect people to pay for toxic water is insane. Spending less on invading other countries and instigating wars, and looking after their own people would be the logical way.
All human governments are part of an evil beast. Flint is now showing its true colors.
😄😇😄
I honestly don't know if I should laugh or cry reading this.
Great job! Thank you for sharing!
This post has been ranked within the top 10 most undervalued posts in the first half of May 04. We estimate that this post is undervalued by $10.04 as compared to a scenario in which every voter had an equal say.
See the full rankings and details in The Daily Tribune: May 04 - Part I. You can also read about some of our methodology, data analysis and technical details in our initial post.
If you are the author and would prefer not to receive these comments, simply reply "Stop" to this comment.