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The Household Support Fund, a government initiative first launched in October 2021, has supported thousands of people nationwide through providing targeted food vouchers, financial support towards clothing and furniture and extra help with energy bills.
The scheme is due to end March 2024 and the government has made no commitment to extend it into the new financial year.
Leader of North Somerset Council Cllr Mike Bell and Deputy Leader Cllr Catherine Gibbons have today written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer urging him to extend the scheme beyond this date.
Families in North Somerset have received over 41,000 different crisis support payments directly from the Household Support Fund – around £2.6million per annum of vital financial assistance.
Comments residents made include:
- “I’m a single parent, I’m struggling with everyday bills, having to ask family to help me but they can’t anymore. I’m in debt and really struggling.”
- “My rent is £1600 alone, after car insurance and other bills there’s not enough left to cover food shopping bill.”
- “Have not been able to pay for gas and electric since March. Current bill is over £800. Struggling to be able to do a food shop due to price rises.”
As well as families in crisis, the fund has also supported children who receive free school meals and care experienced young people as well as provided additional payments to Council Tax Support customers.
Partner organisations such as Citizen’s Advice, Salvation Army, fuel banks and local charities received additional support too, through the fund, meaning they could help and support even more residents as prices continued to increase.
Cllr Mike Bell, Leader of North Somerset Council said: “The Household Support Fund has been vital in helping thousands of residents as costs rise. The fund has enabled councils like ours to provide financial support suited to the needs of our communities, whether that’s through a cash payment so families can buy the essentials they need, advice to help people access the financial support they are entitled to or through the direct provision of furniture and white goods. We want this vital support to continue. That’s why we’ve taken action to urge Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to continue the Household Support Fund beyond March next year.”
Cllr Catherine Gibbons, Deputy Leader of North Somerset Council added: “This funding has been so important to help children and families cope with the pressures on them. We’ve been able to direct support to families most in need and know it has made a huge difference in ensuring that children from the poorest families got an extra helping hand. The government needs to continue this support at a time when energy bills, mortgages and inflation continues to bite into family budgets. This is why, when asked at our Executive meeting that we write this letter to the chancellor, I was reassured that something was already in hand, and which underlines our commitment to fight for our residents.”
To find out more about the Household Support Fund, and other financial help schemes available, check out the cost of living pages at www.n-somerset.gov.uk.