Water/Sewer Utility Billing Assistance

For many families, an unexpected hurdle like illness, unemployment, disability, or low fixed income, can put people into financial hardship.  It can be difficult for many to juggle necessities like paying a water/sewer utility bill with providing their families with joyful memories for the year. Here we have listed some resources for water and sewer billing assistance.

Customers Helping Customers Program (CHC)

The City is now accepting monetary donations of any amount and applying those donations as credits to qualifying water/sewer utility accounts. Together, the City and the community can make a difference for someone experiencing unexpected financial difficulties.

If you are interested in donating to the program, you can submit a check with your desired donation amount and make it payable to the City of Carlton. Be sure to note in the memo line that it is a donation for the CHC Program.

If you are a customer in need of assistance with your water/sewer utility bill, please fill out the application below and submit to City Hall.

The following criteria must be met to qualify for credits:

• Customer must be in a “Shut off” status.
• Assistance will only be provided one time per customer/account.
  • If a customer holds multiple accounts at once, only one will be eligible for assistance.
  • An account can only receive credit once in the history of the account. Example: If Jerry and Lisa both live at 123 Main Street and Jerry receives assistance, Lisa will not be eligible to receive assistance on the same account.
• Application for assistance must be submitted to the City at least one week prior to the service disconnection date listed on the “Shut-Off Notice.”
• Application submission does not guarantee assistance will be provided. Funds for the program are comprised of customer donations and are not guaranteed.

For questions about the program, please contact City staff at 503-852-7575. City Hall is open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4 PM.

Yamhill County Action Partnership Low Income Housing Water Assistance (LIHWA) Program

There is a new federal program, the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program, that is available to help households pay their water and wastewater (sewer) bills.   
To qualify: 

• Be under 60% State Median Income, as shown in the chart below. *gross income is income BEFORE taxes-
• Have a water bill in an adult household member’s name, this is the household member that must sign the application for assistance.

Customers must have a balance owing for YCAP to assist. The program is not intended for leaving future credits on accounts.  First priority will be given to those who are already disconnected or pending disconnection for non-payment.  

• To request an application you may call the YCAP request line at (503) 687-1480, leave your full name, mailing address and a message stating you would like to request a water/sewer application be mailed out to you.  If you prefer online, you may fill out an Application Request Form on their website. 
• Applications are mailed out on Friday each week, so long as funding is still available.  Customers can mail the application & documents back to YCAP, or place them in the drop-box next to the YCAP front door.  YCAP process applications in the order the completed application is returned and the turn-around time is typically 4-6 weeks.  
• Customers need to include the most recent water/sewer bill and signed LIHWA disclaimer along with all other application materials requested (this is all going to be sent in the application packet).  Households are only eligible to receive one assistance payment from this fund the LIHWA fund and the goal is to bring the account current.