Braidwood approves Good Neighbor Fund to help residents facing financial hardship

Braidwood residents struggling to pay overdue water bills or address certain property maintenance violations could receive financial assistance through a new city program.The City Council on Oct. 27 unanimously approved the Good Neighbor Fund Program, which would provide limited financial assistance to eligible residents experiencing temporary financial hardship.The program was discussed at length during the Oct. 13 Committee of the Whole meeting.“This is a great program to ask businesses for donations so we can create this account to maybe help offset individuals – residents who are having hardships with their water bill payment,” Administrative Consultant Steve Gulden said on Oct.13. “So it’s kind of a grant program for residents who are dealing with some financial hardship.”The program is intended to help residents address essential property expenses while encouraging local businesses, organizations and individuals to contribute to the fund.According to the proposed guidelines, assi