Stories of Service: Providing Relief, One Water Bill at a Time
This Community Action Month, we’re highlighting the people and programs behind our anti-poverty work. We’ll start with our Water Program and introduce Kendra, one of the staff members who works with our Water Program clients.
Meet Kendra
Kendra has worked at Community Action Partnership of Hennepin County (CAP-HC) for 11 years. With a background in early childhood education, she has seen firsthand how poverty can affect every part of a family’s life—from basic needs like food, heat, and water; to housing stability; to a child’s ability to learn. “I’ve listened to parents trying to make ends meet while facing eviction,” she shares. “I wanted to help relieve some of that stress, and working at CAP-HC has allowed me to do that.”
What the Water Program Does
CAP-HC’s Water Assistance Program provides assistance payments toward past-due water bills for income-eligible families in Hennepin County. As the only Water Program in the county, demand is high. She and the Water Program team process applications, communicate with utility vendors, prepare payments, and support clients through in-person visits, phone calls, and emails—often all in one day. “Every day is different. There’s a lot of multitasking,” she notes.
Meeting People Where They Are
People seek out water assistance because their income can’t keep up with the high cost of living. “Many people are on fixed incomes, or their pay is hardly increasing, and their expenses keep rising,” Kendra explains. “Some families are in the middle of a crisis because of unexpected life experiences. Being able to provide assistance with their bills makes a huge difference.”
She recalls one client in particular who was going to have her water bill assessed to her property taxes. CAP-HC stepped in just in time. “She was extremely stressed to have increased mortgage payments each month,” Kendra recalls. “We were able to help cover her bill and prevent it from being added to her taxes.” The client was so relieved and grateful for the help.
A Message from Kendra
“This is a great program—but since it’s the only Water Program in Hennepin County, it’s in high demand,” Kendra emphasizes. “Please be patient and kind to the staff. We want to help as many people as possible, and we are working hard every day to process applications as quickly as we can.”
Why the Water Program Matters
At CAP-HC, we believe that every family deserves safe, healthy living conditions. The Water Program doesn’t just help with bills—it helps families regain stability, reduce stress, and avoid cascading crises that affect housing, job security, and more. Kendra puts it best: “We’re creating stability in the home. And that stability has a positive ripple effect throughout a person’s life.”
Learn more about our Water Program.
Want to Support Our Work?
Make a donation in honor of Community Action Month. Your gift helps keep water flowing for families across Hennepin County.