New program launched to relieve water and sewer debts in New York

February 9th, 2010 - 12:12 am ICT by BNO News  

NEW YORK CITY (BNO NEWS) – Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Cas Holloway launched the Water Debt Assistance Program for New York City on Monday.

The initiative will help home owners at risk of foreclosure due to water and sewer debt. “By putting a temporary freeze on water and sewer debts, and not assessing any interest on those unpaid debts, we’re offering a financial lifeline to many homeowners that need help now more than ever”, said Mayor Bloomberg at the Pratt Area Community Council.

Homeowners that are on the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) 90-day lien sale warning list can apply to the program and if they qualify will be removed from the upcoming May 1 lien sale.

Commissioner Holloway said, “This program will help keep New York City neighborhoods strong, and strikes the right balance between ensuring that everyone pays their fair share for the best drinking water in the country, and recognizing that we need to help responsible, hard-working homeowners weather these very difficult times”.

For qualifying to the program, homeowners must acknowledge water and sewer debt, enter a binding agreement that such debt will be paid in full when possible and prove that their financial picture is capable of paying the debt.

Nearly 12,000 properties are in the DEP’s warning lists. Properties must have more than $1,000 in overdue water bills for at least a year to be placed in such list.

“This innovative program offers genuine relief to families who are swimming against the tide of foreclosure and struggling to makes ends meet”, said Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Rafael Cestero.

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