The Household Support Fund was a lifeline to councils and their communities when it was first introduced in October 2021.
It helped vulnerable people hit the most severely by the COVID-19 pandemic and, more recently, has supported struggling households with the increased cost of living.
Demand has proved so high that it has been extended several times, most recently this month, so it will now run until 31 March 2025.
The LGA had been campaigning vigorously for this latest extension, because three out of five of our member councils told us they would not be able to provide additional funding for local welfare assistance without it.
While it is positive that this support will continue, it needs to be part of a transition to a longer-term and sustainable preventative approach that helps stop people from falling into poverty and hardship in the first place.
Councils want to see a shift away from short-term, crisis support so they can instead invest in preventative services that improve people’s financial resilience and life chances.
This principle applies not just to the Household Support Fund and welfare, but to a plethora of vital local public services, such as adult social care, children’s services, homelessness, and provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
As first was going to press, the LGA was finalising its submission to the Government on its Budget (on 30 October) and its multi-year Spending Review (concluding next spring) – the first since 2021.
These key fiscal announcements provide an opportunity to start that much-needed transition from short-term emergency interventions to more effective and efficient long-term early prevention work, in partnership with local government.
This would not only save taxpayers’ money in the long run, but it should also ensure a better quality of life for our residents, young and old.