Dear Neighbors,
Happy New Year! As we enter the new decade, I hope this past holiday season was filled with good times shared with your family, friends and loved ones.
It was an absolute privilege to serve as representative for the 6th House District this past year and I look forward to what 2020 has in store.
If there is anything I can do to help you and your family, please do not hesitate to call my office at (517) 373-0823, email me at TyroneCarter@house.mi.gov, or stop by my office in Lansing.
In this Edition:
- Census 2020
- Winter Heating and Energy Assistance
- Greyhound Service Update
- Upcoming Coffee Hour
- Celebrating Service for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Census 2020
The country is gearing up for the 2020 Census and making sure every person is counted is critical for local funding, government representation and many other things. Each city in Michigan is at risk of losing approximately $3,000 each year for every person that is not counted in the census. An accurate count is critically important as it determines how much federal funding the city and the state of Michigan receive for programs and services such as: public safety, Medicare and Medicaid, schools and Head Start, highway planning and construction, and nutrition and housing assistance for low-income families. It also shapes congressional representation, determines legislative districts and much, much more. This year, Michigan is focusing their efforts on the Three C’s: Convenient, Confidential, and Critical.
- Responding to the census must be convenient – people can respond by mail, phone or online.
- The census is 100% confidential and secure and your information will not be shared with anyone.
- Ensuring everyone is counted is critical to the future success of Michigan.
The U.S. Census Bureau still has a number of employment opportunities for the upcoming census! If you’re interested, you can apply online through the Census Bureau’s website by clicking here.
Census Day is April 1, 2020 and invitations to respond will begin hitting mailboxes on March 12. Detroit residents interested in learning more about the 2020 census can click here. For more information about the 2020 census in Michigan generally, click here.
Winter Heating and Energy Assistance
With the winter weather getting colder, it is more important than ever to keep yourselves and your loved ones warm and safe. During these months, some residents may struggle to pay their heating or electric bills and be faced with the prospect of having their heat shut off due to non-payment. Michigan law provides shut-off protections for eligible customers, and several local aid agencies are able to provide energy assistance payments to help qualifying low-income customers pay their energy bills to avoid potential shut offs. Below you’ll find suggestions for saving energy, links to informational consumer tips and a wide range of other helpful consumer resources.
If you’re behind on your energy bill, you can apply for help in paying off your past-due balance starting Nov.1 if your income is below 150 percent of the poverty level.
Call 2-1-1 or click on www.mi211.org to learn about agencies in our area that may assist with your energy bill.
Assistance Programs
State Emergency Relief
Income-eligible households may receive assistance with heat or electric bills during extreme hardship or for emergencies that threaten health and safety. Contact the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to learn more. Call 2-1-1 to learn about other energy assistance programs.
Michigan Energy Assistance Program
The Michigan Public Service Commission administers the Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP). The purpose of the MEAP is to establish and administer programs statewide that provide energy assistance and self-sufficiency services to eligible low-income households.
Medical Emergency Protection
Protections are available for those in a medical emergency, whose health would be aggravated by lack of utility service; and critical care customers, whose medical equipment or life support system would be immediately life-threatening without utility service. Contact your gas or electric company for more information.
Greyhound Service Update
After many discussions and site visits, I’m pleased to announce that the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has decided to allow the Greyhound location at Howard Street and Lodge Freeway in downtown Detroit to remain until at least 2022. Although the building still needs significant repairs, the abrupt closure could have caused significant disruption to families and residents throughout the area.
Upcoming Coffee Hour
Every month, my team and I hold events and meetings in the district where we discuss what’s happening in Lansing and your ideas for how we can make our community better. I hope you can join me at my first coffee hour of the new year!
When: Monday, Jan. 27, at 10 a.m.
Where: Ecorse Senior Center, 4072 W. Jefferson Ave. in Ecorse
Celebrating Service for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
As you know, this weekend we celebrate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Born on Jan. 15, 1929 in Atlanta Georgia, Dr. King would go on to become one of the most important leaders of the civil rights movement. Dr. King’s legacy of advocating for equal rights through nonviolence and civil disobedience continues to live on as we work toward building a world where no one is judged on the basis of their skin, but rather the content of his or her character.
State offices will be closed on Monday to mark Dr. King’s birthday and I know many of you will have the day off from work or school too, but I would ask that you use that opportunity as a day of action in your communities. Attend a service event, volunteer or simply spend some time with someone that may need a helping hand. The best way to celebrate Dr. King’s memory is to reach out and make a positive difference in the lives of others.
Never hesitate to reach out to me or my staff if you have any questions or concerns!
Sincerely,
Tyrone Carter
State Representative
6th House District