COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility List Expands

The City of Detroit expanded its eligibility list for COVID-19 vaccines to include federal and state law enforcement officials who live or work in Detroit and report to a job site. That includes FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshal, U.S. Attorney, Michigan State Police and Michigan Attorney General. Mayor Mike Duggan provided the vaccine update at a news briefing January 19.

The Mayor also reported that the State of Michigan received about 50,000 Pfizer vaccines less than expected from the federal government this week. Although that created tight supplies for many Michigan centers, Detroit residents are urged to keep their appointments as scheduled this week. However, there are two changes: Individuals will receive the Moderna vaccine instead, along with new appointment dates for the second dose. Those individuals will receive the new dates for second appointments during their visit to the TCF Center, so there is no need to call the appointment center.

Thus far, the City has scheduled 12,000 appointments at the TCF Center for: 8000 seniors and good neighbors; 3300 teachers, school and childcare employees; 700 City of Detroit employees and 400 U.S. Postal workers.

Eligible residents can call (313) 230-0505 between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday-Friday to make an appointment.

City Provides Language Support

The City also has a toll-free number to provide language support in Spanish, Arabic or Bengali. The number is (855) 393-4432.

In addition, sign language interpreters will be on hand at the TCF Center for those with hearing disabilities.

Vaccinations Continue at Senior Buildings and Homeless Shelters

Meanwhile, the Detroit Health Department (DHD) will continue to vaccinate residents and staff at senior buildings and homeless shelters across the city. Thus far, DHD has vaccinated 400 residents and staff members at three homeless shelters and four senior apartment buildings.

For the week of January 19, vaccinations are scheduled for:

Senior Apartments
University Village, Forest Park Place and Riverbend Down

Homeless Shelters/Warming Centers
Salvation Army (Fort Street), Alternatives for Girls and Cass community shelters

City announces record number of property tax exemptions, helping more families stay in their homes

With hundreds of applications still being reviewed, the City of Detroit already has issued a record number of property tax exemptions to income-eligible homeowners for the Homeowners Property Tax Assistance Program (HPTAP). The City has approved more than 10,500 (and counting) Detroit homeowners for a property tax exemption, a 15% increase over the 9,089 approved last year.

The City’s approved exemptions have increased by nearly 150% since 2014, helping more than 10,000 Detroiters avoid foreclosure. HPTAP allows homeowners to be exempt from their current year property taxes based on household income or circumstances to help them avoid the possibility of foreclosure.

For the past five years, the City’s Board of Review and Office of the Assessor have implemented an intensive outreach and hands-on marketing plan to reach Detroiters in need of property tax assistance. Despite the challenges of helping individuals during a pandemic, the City spent countless hours to reach eligible Detroit homeowners, which included:

• Creating an online HPTAP application process
• Visiting homes to pick up applications when necessary or drop off applications when requested
• Making more than 2,000 phone calls to remind prior applicants of the 2020 application deadline
• Assisting more than 1,200 Detroiters with the HPTAP application at the TCF Center

Additionally, the City partnered with the Rocket Community Fund to support 15 non-profits hosting virtual workshops to help Detroiters apply for property tax exemptions.  The City worked with Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency and Accounting Aid Society to provide assistance for applicants.

The City also partnered with Wayne County to assist Detroiters with their delinquent property taxes through the Pay as You Stay (PAYS) program. Detroit homeowners enrolled in the HPTAP program were also enrolled in the PAYS program, which helped eliminate interest, penalties and fees associated with delinquent taxes, and enrolled them in an affordable payment plan to keep their home. The PAYS program through December 20, 2020 has accepted 5,022 Detroiters and substantially lowered their delinquent property taxes.

Find more information on HPTAP here.

Find more information on PAYS here.

The Detroit Health Department (DHD) is providing two ways for residents to report businesses that are violating COVID-19 safety restrictions. A form is available at detroitmi.gov/health or anyone can call 313-876-4000. Businesses found to be in violation will be subject to a fine of up to $1,000. Chief Public Health Director Denise Fair said a list of businesses in violation will be maintained on DHD’s website.

Fair also referred businesses to Detroit Means Business as a source of masks and gloves at no charge to small businesses. Further information on PPE distribution, as well as easy-to-understand guides and other resources related to the State’s health order, is available at www.detroitmeansbusiness.org.