TRAVERSE CITY -- A Michigan Department of Human Services case worker will be at the Father Fred Foundation in Traverse City for three weeks beginning today to assist people needing help paying their utility bills.
The caseworker will be at the foundation from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays through May 15 to help with what is expected to be an increase in requests.
Martie Manty, Father Fred's executive director, said it should speed up the process, since the nonprofit often has to refer people to the department first.
To qualify, residents must be from Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties and present shutoff notices and other paperwork.
This winter, the Michigan Public Service Commission protected some residents from shutoff after news surfaced of a 93-year-old Bay City man who froze to death in his home when power was shut off after a city utility placed an electricity limiter on his power box.
The ban on shutoffs will expire Thursday. Those who are at least 65 years old, disabled, have at least one unemployed adult at home and meet specific income guidelines were eligible.
