Hardship Grant Program

Mother and child

Pittsburgh residents can now contribute to our Hardship Grant Program, which directly benefits local families who are struggling to pay for basic water services. 

Since 2018, the Hardship Grant Program has helped more than 850 income-eligible Pittsburgh households maintain essential water services. The grant program was established to provide income-eligible customers with annual cash assistance to put toward their monthly water bill. We've currently distributed more than $200,000 through the program and award an average household grant of $229.

By contributing to the Hardship Grant Program, your tax-deductible donation is distributed in the form of financial aid to income-eligible households. Grants are dispersed on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible families with a gross household income that is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level. This means that a family of four making $41,625 would qualify. Households can receive a grant once every 12 months up to the maximum amount of $300.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

The Hardship Grant Program, like our other Customer Assistance Programs, is administered by Dollar Energy Fund. If you are interested in making a tax-deductible donation to the grant program, you can do so using one of these options:

  • Fill out Dollar Energy Fund's online donation form.
  • Call Dollar Energy Fund at 866-762-2348 and indicate that the donation should go towards PWSA’s Hardship Grant Program.
  • Mail a check to PO Box 42329, Pittsburgh, PA 15203 and indicate that the donation should go towards PWSA’s Hardship Grant Program.