‘Financial crisis, destitution and homelessness’ predicted if support fund is ended, town hall boss states

Councillor Neil Emmott, leader of Rochdale Borough Council

The money supporting poorer families is due to stop at the end of next month prompting Rochdale’s council leader to write to the government demanding that it should continue.

Councillor Neil Emmott has written to Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities outlining how vital the Household Support Fund is to low income families in the area. The council leader wants to see this money, which largely contributes to providing food vouchers to children in the school holidays, continue.

In his letter, Councillor Emmott said: “For the past three years, Rochdale Borough Council has received circa £4.7m per year from the National Household Support Fund to provide vital support to households, who would otherwise struggle to buy food, pay essential utility bills or meet other essential living or housing costs.

“The HSF is a vital part of the social safety net that has been crucial during this period of rising destitution. Along with our other partners we are not in a position to plug the gap if the government proceeds with their decision to end the fund.”

He highlighted how the Autumn budget statement made no reference to the continuation of this fund from 1 April, and there is real fear it will not be extended.

In Rochdale, the HSF is used for: 

• Food vouchers targeting support for low-income families 
• Energy cost support for older people 
• Emergency short-term food and fuel assistance for people in crisis
• A Warm Homes scheme – which provides immediate support for vulnerable residents so they can stay safely in their homes
• Homelessness prevention scheme

The letter, sent on 20 February, stated that without the HSF, all these schemes benefitting the lowest income families in the borough would be lost. Councillor Emmott added that for some of these families, ending this funding would mean “financial crisis, destitution, homelessness and increased pressure on already stretched public services, including the NHS, social care and our homelessness teams.”

The council leader urged the government to reconsider the Household Support Fund decision and extend the provision in the Spring Budget on 6 March. 

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson, responding on whether the HSF will be extended or not, said: “We have invested over £2 billion in the Household Support Fund over the last two years – with almost £800 million already paid to families with children to help with the cost of living.

“The current Fund is available up until March 2024 as part of wider cost of living support worth on average £3,700 per household, including raising benefits by 6.7% from April and increasing the Local Housing Allowance.”

Just after midday on 6 March, chancellor Jeremy Hunt is expected to deliver his Spring Budget to the House of Commons, likely to be the last one before the next general election.

George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporter