Do you need help paying your water bill? Here is how you can get some relief

Makenzie Boucher, Shreveport Times
·2 min read

Do you need help on your overdue water bill? Well, the City of Shreveport is now accepting applications for the Shreveport Water Assistance Program (SWAP).

“If a water customer is facing challenges with their bills, we urge them to explore the Shreveport Water Assistance Program (SWAP),” said William Daniel, Director of Water and Sewerage. “It was established in 2001 and is tailored to provide crucial support, helping households with past due balances. Our customer's well-being is our priority, and SWAP is here to help.”

SWAP is an assistance program designed to aid citizens of Shreveport with their residential water and sewerage bills.

To be eligible for this assistance program, citizens must have an active water and sewerage account, be below 150% of the federal poverty guideline level and the property must be a single-family home.

The SWAP freezes the arrears balance and stops delinquency actions such as disconnections. The arrears will also be eligible for payment arrangement on the remaining half of past due balance and receive a payment to the account equivalent to 50% of the arrears balance.

To enroll in this program there are a few requirements.

Water pours from a faucet from a kitchen sink.
Water pours from a faucet from a kitchen sink.

Check out the requirements:

  • Enroll in the program through community partner.

    • Caddo Community Action Agency Center

    • Eddie Jones (Lakeside) Community Center

    • David Raines Community Center

    • Socialization Services

  • Provide valid identification (Driver’s License, governmental issued picture ID, etc.).

  • Provide income verification (Federal Tax Return, recent paycheck stubs, wages, and tax statements (W2, 1099, etc.) or other acceptable forms).

  • Sign the payment agreement and agree to pay off the remaining past-due account balance.

  • Keep the account current by paying monthly current charges and payment arrangement portion.

  • Make at least 3 payments within the last 6 months prior to applying for assistance.

  • Remain in the program for 6 months.

To learn more about this program visit www.shreveportlawater.gov.

More: Shreveport City Council considers water and sewer rate increase. What you should know.

Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Do you need help paying your water bill?