DETROIT – Some major assistance from the federal government will soon help the city of Detroit address some infrastructure problems and much needed repairs to its old sewer lines.
The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) presented city leaders a check for $346.8 million in disaster recovery funds on Wednesday. That money will go toward helping the city replace infrastructure that’s resulting in flooding and basement backups. The HUD Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery funding is tied to the flooding the City of Detroit and surrounding communities experienced in August 2023.
Basement flooding is an issue many families are dealing with across the city of Detroit.
“When I saw the water gushing from the sewer in the basement to the ceiling in the basement, I mean it really scared me,” said Joyseine Foxhall.
Foxhall and her neighbors on American Street are among residents who said they’ve experienced flooding in their homes, due to clogged sewer lines.
“It’s been very disturbing to me,” Foxhall explained. “My basement is stripped back to concrete floors and concrete walls.
That type of inconvenience has resulted is common across Detroit, according to some city leaders. They often hear of flood problems resulting from clogged alley sewers, aging infrastructure, and changing weather patterns.
“The way we’re effected is in sudden rainstorms,” explained Mayor Mike Duggan during a press conference on Wednesday. “ We experienced it in 2014. In 2016. In 2021. In 2023.”
Replacing its near-century old infrastructure is a problem the City of Detroit has been working to tackle. However, with 1,800 miles of old alley sewer lines, city leaders said there’s no way crews could address the issue without the federal government’s help. That’s where the huge check from HUD comes in.
Following, the flooding Detroit and other communities saw in August 2023, that money will go toward repairing clogged and collapsed sewers across the city. It will also help fund new affordable housing projects that could withstand future flood events.
“For me, it’s going to be critical that all areas of the city receive these types of resources,” said District 3 Councilman Scott Benson. “Close to $400 million, there’s lots of need in the city, but also means there should be equitable distribution of these resources.”
According to the city, data shows nearly 5,000 Detroiters experienced flood damage back in August 2023.
Detroit’s goal is to use the HUD funds to repair blockages at 10,000 homes over the next two years.
“It sounds like a good program,” Foxhall said. “ You know, I appreciate finally coming up with something to help their taxpayers.”
The City of Detroit has 120 days to submit and action plan to HUD, detailing how the funds will be used.