A report from the Local Government Association has outlined how the Household Support Fund must be extended for at least a further six months to ensure that councils are able to continue supporting vulnerable residents.
The fund is set to expire at the end of September, and the call to extend it comes as more than four out of five councils that participated in an LGA survey are expecting the demand for welfare support to increase over the winter months.
In the survey, 94% of the councils that responded said that the fund should continue, with 60% stating that they would not be able to provide additional funding for welfare assistance if the fund were to end. Only 1% of respondents claimed that they would be able to match the funding that would be lost.
Chair of the LGA’s Economy and Resources Board, Cllr Pete Marland, said:
“The Household Support Fund is a vital safety net for vulnerable residents struggling with the cost of living, which councils are using to target help to those most in need, but is currently due to run out in a matter of weeks.
“As our survey shows, services including grants for energy and food, supplying essential furniture and white goods, paying for energy efficiency improvements, funding food banks, offering food vouchers for children during school holidays and employment and financial advice are all at risk of being lost and irreplaceable.
“We are approaching another cliff edge before the current fund runs out and we urge the Government to urgently extend this for at least another six months, to help support those most affected through the winter when energy bills, in particular, are expected to be higher.
“Ultimately, councils want to see a shift away from short-term, crisis support so they can instead invest in preventative services which improve people’s financial resilience and life chances. Crucially this must be underpinned by a sufficiently-resourced national welfare system.”
As the colder months approach, councils around the country are becoming increasingly concerned about the consequences of the fund ending, thanks to its important role in stopping people falling into hardship. With the heightened risk of people falling through the gaps in support, public services that are already overstretched such as health and social care are likely to face increased pressure.
Whilst an extension to the fund would give certainty and security over how councils can support residents who are struggling to pay for the very basics, such as food and bills, the LGA has claimed that extending the HSF would need to come as part of a transition into a sustainable, long-term plan for preventative action that will stop people falling into poverty and hardship before they even need such vital support.
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