Mayor Mary Sheffield and Wayne County Treasurer, Eric Sabree announced today that the recent renewal of a state law will allow Wayne County and the City of Detroit to continue their partnership on programs which have helped prevent foreclosure for thousands of Detroit property owners facing economic challenges. Joined by Detroit homeowners who have participated in the program and avoided foreclosure on their property, Sabree and Sheffield urged Detroit property owners in similar circumstances to seek assistance through Wayne County’s PAYS (Pay As You Stay) and the City of Detroit’s HOPE (Homeowner Property Exemption) programs.

In Detroit and other Wayne County communities that decide to participate in local and county property tax exemption partnerships, homeowners with delinquent taxes who are eligible for local property tax exemptions (HOPE in Detroit) are also automatically qualified for the Wayne County PAYS tax reductions. The cities provide a list of the exempt parcels to the County Treasurer, who checks for delinquent taxes and determine the amount of the reduction in accordance with PAYS guidelines. Qualified taxpayers are notified by the Treasurer’s office of the reduced county tax amounts and provided the option to either pay in full (with an additional 10% reduction) or enter into a 3-year, zero-interest payment plan.

"The PAYS and HOPE property tax partnership has made it possible for thousands of families in Detroit and Wayne County to avoid foreclosure, and so county treasurers across the state urged the Legislature to continue the PAYS program to help people keep their property,” said Treasurer Sabree. “Thanks to those efforts we are pleased to announce that the County can continue being there for families like those we heard from today -- people who are meeting their obligations and legitimately fall upon difficult times due to the changing economy or an illness or other circumstances beyond their control."

"Pay As You Stay has been a godsend for Detroiters at risk of losing their homes to tax foreclosure and has helped to stabilize neighborhoods by keeping homeowners in their homes. I am deeply grateful to Treasurer Sabree for his leadership and to our legislative partners for reauthorizing this vital program," said Mayor Mary Sheffield. "I strongly urge any homeowner struggling to pay their property taxes to contact the City's HOPE program so they can qualify for Pay As You Stay," Mayor Sheffield added.

The deadline for enrolling in the HOPE program this year is November 6. The City of Detroit is holding its next HOPE information and enrollment fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, September 19 at Patton Recreation Center, located at 2301 Woodmere.

“We urge all Wayne County and Detroit property owners who may be struggling with paying property taxes to call us or go to the Treasurer’s website and the City’s website to learn more about these two important foreclosure prevention programs that can help people keep their properties and stay in their homes,” Sabree said.

Wayne County property owners can learn more about enrollment and eligibility for PAYS and other county tax assistance programs by contacting the Treasurer's office at (313) 224-5990 or emailing [email protected]. Detroit residents can learn more about the HOPE program at detroitmi.gov/HOPE.