DETROIT – We all need neighbors like Ms. Brenda Faye Butler.
That crossed my mind within minutes of her invitation to have a seat on her front porch on Detroit’s east side to talk about the city’s HOPE program, which stands for Homeowners Property Exemption.
“If I am in the grocery store, gas station, wherever I am I just start talking to people because I’m a conversationalist,” Bulter said. “I just start asking them questions have you heard of the HOPE program.”
The program has exempted Butler from paying property taxes.
“Those funds can go to other things that will help you maintain your household,” the longtime Detroit resident said.
HOPE eligibility is based on a homeowner’s income and circumstances.
As the director of the Property Assessment Board of Review, Willie Donwell is one of the people responsible for approving HOPE applications.
“The difficult part is just getting people to understand it is available. We try to communicate this every year,” he said.
In 2023 there were more than 15,000 applications submitted, according to the board.
But so many Detroit homeowners, who would have qualified for the exemption, didn’t apply.
Community-based non-profits, like Bridging Communities, work to spread the word.
“Think about the senior on a fixed income who has lived in their home most of their adult life, and they hit a bump in the road, and now they can’t afford to pay their taxes. So, what do they do? That’s where HOPE comes in,” Bridging Communities Executive Director Darchelle Strickland Love said.
Darnell Adams is the vice president for Detroit Community Initiatives at the Gilbert Family Foundation.
He said taking advantage of the HOPE program could ease other financial challenges.
“If you can get that tax exemption, it will unlock home repair resources, probate resources,” Adams said.
The 2024 HOPE application deadline is November 1, but applications are approved on a rolling basis throughout the year.
For more information about HOPE, click here.
Detroit homeowners can get help filling out their HOPE applications on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at our Go 4 It: Healthy Homes Resource Fair at the Adams Butzel Complex in Detroit. You can find more information here.