Crawley supports call for funding to vulnerable families to continue

The government has provided £2.5 billion across the UK but could close the funding stream at the end of March with no indication that it will continue in any form.

This year, £250,000 has been allocated to Crawley Borough Council with half of it used on support with food costs (including funding for the Easter Team and FreeShop Crawley), £75,000 for help with fuel costs and £50,000 supporting homelessness services.

More than 160 council leaders have backed the petition to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to continue the HSF for at least another year.

Councillor Michael Jones said: “I join many of my colleagues at the Local Government Association who are voicing fears that the government could close the Household Support Fund.

“We have been greatly helped in our work to support vulnerable people and families through a difficult time but we are worried that the loss of the HSF will create greater levels of hardship than were seen before.

“I hope the Chancellor will listen when he comes to announcing the budget.”

Councillor Sue Mullins, Cabinet member for Community Engagement and Culture at Crawley Borough Council, said: “National decisions can have shattering local consequences. Given the continuing poor state of the economy and the cost of living becoming increasingly unaffordable, too many people in Crawley are still struggling with every penny.

“To consider ending this funding at such a crucial time would be to abandon some of our most vulnerable families.”

The LGA’s letter urges continuation of the HSF to meet the immediate demands of welfare provided by councils and local charities while they also try to gear-up services to preventing household hardship before it reaches a critical level.

As well as the resources provided to Crawley Borough Council there is also money spent by West Sussex County Council to supplement its services across the borough, including food vouchers during holidays for children who receive free meals at school and subsidies to Citizens Advice and Carers Support.