Even before the coronavirus pandemic, an estimated 56,000 Detroit homeowners were late in paying their property tax, according to a comprehensive study called Neighbor to Neighbor by the Quicken Loans Community Fund released last year.
That leaves far too many residents at risk of losing their homes due to the economic damage inflicted by the months of stay-at-home orders.
To give residents more time to deal with any financial challenges,Wayne County has temporarily halted property tax foreclosures until 2021.
To avoid that fate, a number of government programs are available to set up payment plans, provide exemptions for poverty-level residents, and other assistance. There’s also various non-profits who work with residents to help guide them.
DETROIT CITY, COUNTY AND STATE RESOURCES
The website of the Wayne County Treasurer’s Office has this link to a variety of payment options including some available for low-income residents, military veterans and first responders. For questions about entering into a payment plan, email: wctopaymentplans@waynecounty.com
The Treasurer’s Office is located in downtown Detroit’s Greektown district:
Wayne County Treasurer’s Office
400 Monroe Street
5th Floor
Detroit, MI 48226
Telephone: (313) 224-5990.
The City of Detroit has set up an exemption for current year property taxes based on household income or circumstances. The exemption is called the Homeowner Property Tax Assistance Program, HPTAP. This link to the city government’s website provides details and how to apply.
You can download the application by clicking on this link
You can pick up a form at:
City Assessor’s Office,
Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
2 Woodward Avenue – Suite 804,
Detroit, MI 48226
You can request a form be mailed to your home by calling (313) 224-3035 or emailing BoardofReview@DetroitMI.gov
The Step Forward Michigan Program was established by the Michigan Homeowner Assistance Non-Profit Housing Corporation (MHA) to help residents stay in their homes. The program provides interest-free loans of up to $30,000 to assist with mortgage, property taxes, and/or condominium association fees. The loans are forgivable at 20% each year, as long as the property remains the homeowner’s primary residence.
You can find out if you qualify and also apply here or call (866)946-7432. The website also has this handy resource page that offers links to other useful programs and information. The nonprofit is based in Lansing. It’s address:
Step Forward Michigan
George W. Romney Building – 8th Floor
111 S. Capitol Ave.
Lansing, MI 48933-1555
The email address is: StepForward@michigan.gov
INCOME IMPACTED BY THE CORONAVIRUS?
As many struggle to make ends meet during the pandemic, the federal government has set up about $11 million in various aid available for Wayne County residents through the Coronavirus Aid Relief Economic Security Act, or CARES.
About $8 million will specifically go to Detroit residents. Some of that money goes to property tax assistance.
To find more information, go to the website of Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency, which is the local organization implementing the CARES program. The nonprofit has multiple locations in Detroit and Wayne County, this link shows the various offices.
The main number is (313)388-9799.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO TALK WITH SOMEONE? NEED HELP NAVIGATING THE PROCESS AND OPTIONS?
The United Community Housing Coalition offers a range of services to help residents in danger of tax property foreclosure, rental evictions and assistance with mortgage and land contracts. This page on the Detroit nonprofit’s website shows the range of services offered. It can be reached at (313)963-3310 or at help@uchcdetroit.org.
The group’s office is in Detroit’s Cass Corridor/Midtown area:
United Community Housing Coalition
2727 Second Ave, Suite 313
Detroit, MI 48201
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