Houston passes assistance fund to help qualified residents with new $5 fee

Houston will assist residents who need it with the new $5 administration fee that will address solid waste issues.

The big picture

Beginning July 1, the city of Houston will start charging residents of single-family homes $5 on their water bills.

Houston City Council passed an ordinance June 17 that would expand the Water Aid to Elderly Residents Fund, or WATER, to seniors, low-income residents and people with disabilities, who will now be able to request assistance.

The WATER Fund, which is a donation-based assistance program, also assists residents with their water and wastewater bills. It is funded through donations and provides up to $100 every six months toward eligible residents’ bills, according to Houston Public Works.

The ordinance, which was introduced by council member Alejandra Salinas, passed unanimously.

“Throughout the budget process, this is one of the main concerns we heard directly from residents, especially seniors, families on fixed incomes and those already doing everything they can to keep up,” council member Carolyn Evans-Shabazz said. “We have the responsibility to make difficult financial decisions, but also to provide solutions.”

Put in perspective

According to a news release from Salinas’ office, more than 21% of Houstonians—over half a million people—live below the poverty line. Salinas said working families, seniors and residents are already stretched thin and should not have to deal with another monthly bill without affordability protections.

“This ordinance builds those affordability protections into the solid waste administrative fee and delivers a critical first step toward immediate relief,” Salinas said in the statement. “I will keep fighting for broader affordability measures and stronger utility assistance as the fee continues to phase in.”

Stay tuned

The fee begins taking place July 1. However, depending on the bill cycle, some residents will not see the fee added until their August bill.