This story was originally published by BridgeDetroit.

Less than half of the residents who have asked the City for help removing or trimming trees dangerously overhanging their property will receive that help before funds run out.

A $10.8 million program launched in 2023 will trim or remove about 3,500 dead, dangerous or diseased trees on private property. But more than twice that number of residents applied. The city received 7,500 applications during a three-month application period.

The city has cared for 1,124 trees through the program and expects to care for another 525 trees by the end of this year. In 2025, about 1,851 homeowners will still need help. The city’s contracted providers must care for at least 15 trees per week. At that rate, it would take more than four years to care for all 3,500 trees for which the program provides funding and nearly a decade to assist all 7,500 applicants.

The Detroit City Council has allocated $8.3 million in funding for the first year and added another $2.5 million in the 2024-25 budget, but the city says it could cost as much as $23 million to process all 7,500 requests.

Jerrell Harris, deputy director of the Department of General Services, said Detroit will survey all applicants to catalog the condition of their tree. Individuals who are not helped will be placed on a list to receive help when new funding becomes available. The city does not currently anticipate opening another round of applications. Residents can call (313) 244-4444 to find out their current status.

Jelani Bayi applied for the program after a tree branch fell on power lines behind his house, knocking out his neighbor’s power and trapping his car behind an electric garage door. Saplings from the tree clogged his gutters and caused other problems.

“One really bad storm, one of the branches got caught in my gutter and ripped it off, causing flooding in my house,” Bayi said. “All my books and memorabilia from college, fraternity and the like were ruined. My floor started to buckle, my desk was ruined, electronics too. It was a big mess.”

Inspectors visited his northwest Detroit home last fall, and the tree was removed in June. Bayi moved into his home in 2021. He said removing the tree would have cost $1,200, which was “never in the budget.”

“Certain services in Detroit can be frustrating because they take a long time to resolve,” Bayi said, adding that in recent years he has noticed the city being more responsive. “You can see that improvements are being made in Detroit, slowly but surely. I am patient when it comes to my city.”

Seniors and disabled citizens were given top priority under the program. Before a tree is cared for, city inspectors come by to determine if it is considered dead, dangerous or diseased. If so, the property owner signs an agreement allowing contractors access to their private property. The city reports an average wait time of 90 days after an inspection before a tree is cared for.

Branden Bufford signed up for tree work at seven of his Detroit rental properties. He was number 5,046 on the city’s waiting list for an inspection, so it’s unlikely Bufford will receive help from the program. He didn’t know only 3,500 homes would be served and hasn’t heard any news from the city since March.

Meanwhile, Bufford cut down a tree that was causing concern for a tenant at one of his rental properties and removed branches that were dangerously hanging over power lines at another property.

“It’s been five months without communication,” Bufford said. “I’m not waiting for them to do it for me. With these programs, not everyone will understand. I’m neutral about the situation.”

An email from the city’s General Services Department said people will remain on the waiting list as long as the program is active, and residents will be notified when funds are exhausted before they are approached.

Acting council leader James Tate, who championed the creation of the scheme, said he knew first-hand that old trees can be a major problem.

Trimming thick branches that were reaching toward the neighbor’s house cost $7,000. Tate said the price was staggering.

Tate said the program has been in the works for years and is designed to reduce the risk of falling trees damaging homes and power lines. He worked with the law department to address questions about whether the program violates a state ban on “loaning” for private purposes, a provision of the Michigan Constitution that has blocked other efforts to seal lead hazards in private homes or compensate homeowners who have overpaid taxes from the city.

The city is responsible for maintaining trees in public areas between sidewalks and streets, while homeowners are responsible for trees on their own property. Residents can report problems with trees that fall under the city’s jurisdiction by calling (313) 871-5461.

The city council said it was “imperative” that the program continue and plans to push for additional funding in the next budget cycle.

“Hopefully we can open another round, but I don’t think we can account for every single privately owned tree,” Tate said. “I can’t promise that. This is the first time we’ve done this, and we still need to find funding.”

Tate attributed the apparently slow progress of tree felling to difficulties in finding suitable service providers.

“The only group that never goes bankrupt is the tree trimmers,” Tate said. “They have a lot of work. That reduced the pool (of vendors). Then we looked at those who can trim 15 trees a week, and some just don’t have the capacity to do that.”

As of August 18, 2024, 868 trees have been removed and 256 pruned under the program.

The city plans to maintain the trees year-round. Rain, strong winds, snow and ice make the work dangerous and can lead to delays.

“I know it’s frustrating for someone who called in the first week and still hasn’t gotten service,” Tate said. “I’ve seen a number of seniors on fixed incomes who have put off maintenance issues for years. It’s a huge relief for them. Others are still waiting. By staying in touch, we’ve realized how big the problem is.”