Community Impact

Our mission is to improve the lives of residents in the Coachella Valley and Morongo Basin by mobilizing the caring power of the community to address health and human care needs. This is accomplished by identifying the greatest human care needs of our residents, defining the programs and services needed to address the needs and achieve results, and conducting campaigns with an army of volunteers to fund these programs and services.

Funding Guidelines

Dark Period Policy

Funding Priority

Dollars Raised 2011-2012 Campaign

Vita Free Tax Preporation

MSWD Program

1. Eligibility:
a. Applicants must be approved to qualify for bill payment assistance.
b. Applicants must be a residential customer and account holder with MSWD. The address on the bill must be his or her primary residence.
c. Applicants must apply in person and provide all information requested.
d. Applicants must have received a Past Due bill from MSWD to apply.
e. Applicants are qualified to receive assistance based on maximum household low-income guidelines. The current income guidelines are listed below:

Maximum Household Income

2. Assistance Benefit:
a. Assistance is available only if there are funds available in the MSWD Emergency Relief Fund.
b. Assistance is available on a “first come, first serve” basis.
c. Assistance will be paid directly to MSWD to be applied to the approved customer account.
d. Assistance is available per customer only once per calendar year.
e. The maximum assistance amount is up to $50 per customer, based on actual amount owed.
f. The assistance may only be used for payment of the Past Due monthly service, and may not be used or applied to disconnected accounts, closed bills, reconnection of service, deposits, or to cover NSF checks.
g. Assistance is available only if payment arrangements with MSWD are in place for any delinquent balances.
h. Customers may not bank or use any remaining amount of their assistance at a later time.

3. To Receive Assistance:
a. Applicants should call United Way at 760-323-2731 to learn how and where to set up an appointment with a partner agency. The appointment date should be made several business days in advance of the date set forth in the Past Due bill to avoid disconnection of service.
b. Applicants will be informed about what to bring to their appointment, which may include (but not limited to) the Past Due bill, the most recent billing statement, identification, proof of income, etc.
c. Applicants must answer all questions that are asked and on the Application Form, and certify their answers are accurate.
d. Applicants will be informed as soon as possible if their application is approved, and for what level of assistance. Once the application is approved and there is available funding, notice of payment will be given to the billing department at MSWD.

4. Information:
For more information, visit the MSWD website at mswd.org, or the United Way of the Desert website at unitedwayofthedesert.org., or call United Way at 760-323-2731 and ask about the “MSWD Emergency Relief Fund.”

Any one wishing to help support this program may make a tax-deductible donation to United Way of the Desert, and note that the gift is to be designated to the “MSWD Emergency Relief Fund”. For more donation information, please visit the websites for more information, or call United Way of the Desert at 760-323-2731.