COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Columbus City Council is voting on a variety of ordinances to fund programs that support an array of Columbus residents.  

More than $500,000 left over from COVID-19 relief funding was approved to help low-income residents pay utility bills.  

“It speaks to the stewarding of public dollars that the city has really taken into account, but also speaks to the fact that we want to be supportive of our residents at a time of need and trying to do our best to support them when they need support from the city,” Columbus City Councilmember Christopher Wyche said.

This is just for City of Columbus utility customers. Those who qualify for the low-income program will receive a 25% discount on water and sewer usage charges and a one-time credit of $65. City of Columbus Power customers can also receive that same discount off their energy usage and a one-time $50 credit. 

More people now qualify for this assistance as well because the city raised the income limit. For those breakdowns as well as how to apply, click here.  

There are also special discounts for seniors. Those age 60 and older who qualify for the program will have their service charges waived, which is a little over $11 a month. 

That’s not the only support older residents are getting from the council. Funding was approved to support nonprofits that help seniors age in place. 

Four organizations are receiving money to help more than 700 people navigate aging in their homes. They say this is extremely important because many people cannot afford assisted living. 

These nonprofits provide older adults with meal delivery, grocery support, transportation and home maintenance. 

At Home by High in the Weinland Park area is one of the organizations receiving this funding. They are a small grassroots non-profit with two staff members and a few interns. They said the funding is essential for their work to continue. 

“Keeping us going with funding from the city is huge,” At Home By High Executive Director Katie Beaumont said. “It’s just, you know, very few opportunities for us come around and we’ve been so thrilled that this is the second year that we’ve received funding through our (Columbus City) Councilmember (Nancy) Day-Achauer.” 

“We can’t build enough places in the city to take care of the population,” Village Connections Executive Director Donald Wiggins said. “We have a real obligation to figure out how we can keep people in their homes.” 

Village Connections is another organization that received funding, as well as Village in the Ville and Village Central. 

“It’s very difficult for programs that help our older adults get funding, and so this was a way that I could help them get the kind of funding that helps with socializing,” Day-Achauer said. “A lot of times you can’t get funding to pay for parties, fun stuff, things like that. But that fun stuff is actually critically important to our older adults.”