Are you behind on your property taxes? A Wayne County relief program is back.

August 21, 2026

Wayne County has reinstated its Pay As You Stay (PAYS) program, which helps Detroit residents facing property tax delinquency avoid foreclosure. The program, which expired in June 2025 but was renewed through July legislation, has assisted nearly 18,000 property owners since 2020 by reducing county taxes and offering either a 10% payment reduction or an interest-free three-year payment plan. To access PAYS and additional tax relief from the Gilbert Family Foundation, homeowners must first apply for Detroit's HOPE program before a November deadline.

Who is affected

Detroit property owners and families (nearly 18,000 helped since 2020)
Financially struggling Detroit homeowners facing delinquent property taxes
13,000 Detroit homeowners who have received Gilbert Family Foundation tax relief
Over 13,000 people assisted annually through the HOPE program
173,000 Detroit homes that were overtaxed between 2010 and 2016

What action is being taken

Detroit and Wayne County officials are encouraging financially struggling Detroiters to apply for the local property tax exemption (HOPE program) ahead of the November deadline
The PAYS program is reducing county taxes and offering a 10% reduction of full payment or a three-year, interest-free payment plan
The Gilbert Family Foundation's Detroit Tax Relief Fund is wiping away remaining balances after PAYS reduces back taxes
Willie Donwell and the property assessment board of review are overseeing the HOPE program and assisting over 13,000 people annually

Why it matters

This program is critical because three years of delinquent property taxes can lead to county foreclosure and property auction, resulting in families losing their homes. The significance is heightened by Detroit's history of systematically overtaxing homeowners by at least $600 million between 2010 and 2016, with over 92% of homes reviewed being overtaxed by an average of $3,800. These over-assessments created inflated tax bills that led to foreclosures, making relief programs essential to preventing further displacement and helping residents address debts that may have originated from the city's own assessment errors.

What's next

Homeowners need to apply for Detroit's HOPE program by the November deadline, which will automatically qualify them for the PAYS program and the Gilbert Family Foundation-funded tax relief effort (no separate applications required for these two programs).

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com