Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
100,000 Low-Income LADWP Customers Can Get $500 Pandemic Aid Grants
A Los Angeles Department of Water and Power worker wearing a mask made in the utility's upholstery shop. (Courtesy LADWP)
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is offering one-time $500 grants to low-income households that have lost work or had extra medical or child care expenses due to COVID-19.
The money can be used to pay utility bills or cover other expenses that threaten people’s ability to remain in their homes. Unemployment in Los Angeles remains high during the pandemic, above 15% as of September.
The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday approved spending $50 million from its federal CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund allocation to help up to 100,000 households.
If more than that apply for the grants, the DWP will select recipients in a random drawing. However, the utility will give priority to households that are already enrolled in LADWP programs offering subsidized rates to those who need financial assistance.
The grants are meant for low-income households, so not everybody will qualify. For example, to be eligible, a family of four needs to earn no more than $52,400. The money would be paid out in the form of checks mailed to each qualifying household that applies.
Los Angeles city residents can apply online via their own LADWP customer accounts starting Monday through Nov. 15. You can find details here.
READ MORE ABOUT UTILITY BILL RELIEF
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
