Recent winter and ice storms in SE Michigan caused widespread power outages and challenges for many community members and families with more than 600,000 customers spending a thoughtful amount of time without electricity.
Here are some resources and connections if you – or someone you know – has been impacted and need food assistance. This is also guidance for human services professionals who are partnering with families every day. If a family (a) receives food assistance (often from DHS) and (b) lost power as well as had (c) their food supplies impacted – here is guidance for replacement assistance.
#1) Call DTE Energy at 800-477-4747 press option 5 – and then press option 5 again to connect.
#2) Request a letter from DTE stating the dates that the power was disrupted for a family / address. Ask DTE to email this document directly to the family or support professional so it will arrive more quickly than postal mail.
#3) Have the impacted family complete the DHS replacement affidavit form (click the download button below) and upload the completed form to the MI Bridges system or take it to a local DHS office.
#4) Inform their DHS case worker professional that an application has been completed and turned.
DHS case workers have 10 days to review and respond to the application – approve or deny. If there is no reply within 10 days, support the applicant family to file for a hearing and do not withdraw the application until there is confirmation that it has been reviewed and processed.
Knowing that hunger cannot wait – below are some local connections to food resources that are more immediate.
Feeding America https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank
Pantry Net Home – Pantry Net
Food Finder https://foodfinder.us/