low income families

The Trump administration is cancelling or defunding a number of initiatives that have been investing in environmental and energy justice. These are programs that, in some cases, have a direct impact on Washtenaw County. The Biden-era Justice40 program has been cancelled. WEMU's David Fair spoke with one of the architects of that program, Dr. Jalonne White-Newsome, who is the former White House Federal Chief Environmental Justice Officer and is founder and CEO of Empowering a Green Environment and Economy, LLC.

The tax season has arrived, and there are a lot of people in the area that need some assistance in making sure they file accurately and on time. In fact, about 20% of those eligible don’t file taxes and miss out on the valuable credits they are entitled to. The United Way for Southeastern Michigan makes free tax assistance available to those in Washtenaw County earning $67,000 a year or less. WEMU's David Fair talks more about the program with the United Way’s Megan Thibos for this week's "Washtenaw United."

A group in Ypsilanti is looking to bring solar energy to low-income neighborhoods. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert has this report.

Ann Arbor is moving to dissolve its Housing and Human Services Advisory Board (HHSAB). WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

Energy costs are a significant problem for many in our community, and utility bills are going up everywhere. In this month's installment of “1st Friday Focus on the Environment”, we look at the issue of energy equity with Dr. Tony Reames. He is Director of the Detroit Sustainability Clinic at the University of Michigan's School for Environment and Sustainability. Dr. Reames joined WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director Lisa Wozniak with an assessment of where we are on energy equity and where we're headed.

Efforts to create a more equitable community continues as we move toward 2025. The Peace Neighborhood Center in Ann Arbor will partner with other non-profits and open a new facility on the eastern side of Washtenaw County. Bonnie Billups is executive director of the Center, and he joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss the new Peace HUB Community Resource Center.

While the Ypsilanti Freighthouse serves as a daytime warming center, the only 24/7 shelter for unhoused members of the Ypsilanti community is the Delonis Center in Ann Arbor. and it has limited beds available. There is ongoing community discussion about the need for a shelter on the eastern side of Washtenaw County. Concentrate Media's Rylee Barnsdale that need and what's being done about it with Lindsay Calka. She's the managing director of Groundcover News, a publication giving voice to low-income residents.

The income gap continues to widen in Washtenaw County. The number of people with housing, food and transportation insecurity continues to climb, and there are enough gaps in social services that some are falling through the cracks. That’s where Ypsilanti-based Friends In Deed steps in. Joye Clute and Elisa Guyton from Friends In Deed joined WEMU's David Fair to talk about the work being done and measures being taken to address what is a worsening level of poverty in portions of our community.

Many of us take transportation for granted. We have cars or can pay for Uber or bus rides. There are many who don’t have, or can’t afford, access. In the more rural parts of Washtenaw County, it can be even more difficult. That’s where the Western-Washtenaw Area Value Express (WAVE) steps in. WAVE makes sure people can get rides to medical appointments, job interviews and more. WEMU's David Fair talked about enhancing equity and opportunity through transportation services with WAVE’s Community Relations Coordinator, Shasta Angell.

You may have noticed that the weather is getting colder, and there are a good number of people in Washtenaw County struggling to pay heating bills. Michigan residents have long relied on the Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) for utility bill assistance. MEAP provides funds to help low-income households afford energy costs and avoid harmful shutoffs, but many of the working poor can’t qualify. But there are efforts to change that in the state Legislature. Charles English from the United Way for Southeastern Michigan joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss all of that.