WATER SHUTOFFS IN SHARP FOCUS AMID CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK
The advice is simple and universal: Washing
your hands with soap and water is one of the
most effective ways to stop the spread of the
coronavirus. But for millions of people across
the country, that’s not simple at all: They lack
running water in their houses due to service
shutoffs prompted by overdue bills.
The Rev. Roslyn Bouier remembers when
children began to show up at the Brightmoor
Connection Food Pantry on Detroit’s northwest
side, clutching empty pitchers. It was the
summer of 2014 and the kids were parched. But
their thirst didn’t come from playing outside —
they had no water at home.