Salford City Council is urging the government to extend the “vital” Household Support Fund which has supported more than 18,000 residents.
Political leaders within the council have this week joined forces as they urge the government to extend the HSF which is currently scheduled to end after March 31 2024.
First introduced in October 2021, HSF supports households struggling to cover costs of food, energy and water bills as well as other essentials. The most recent round of funding allocated £5.4 million to Salford.
Additionally, HSF funded holiday food vouchers for children eligible for Free School Meals; Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) partners to deliver food banks, food clubs and food schemes; and other areas of the council such as housing, adult social care, welfare rights and debt advice.
Members of the council, including the Mayor Paul Dennett, have written to the Secretary of State outlining their concerns on the loss of the fund and how this may impact Salford residents.
Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “The cost-of-living crisis continues to exert a significant toll on the residents of Salford, exacerbating vulnerabilities and deepening inequalities. The Household Support Fund has been a crucial safety net, offering our residents much-needed support with food and heating, and ensuring that children on free school meals do not go hungry during school holidays.
“In these trying times, the fund has been more than a financial aid; it has been a source of hope and solidarity across Salford.
“The continuation of the Household Support Fund transcends fiscal considerations, embodying our moral responsibility to ensure no one is left behind, and that families do not have to choose between heating or eating.”
According to The Independent, “Almost 90 parliamentarians from across the political spectrum have written to Jeremy Hunt asking him to extend the Household Support Fund.”
Since 2021 the HSF has provided £2.5 billion of welfare support via local authorities/councils to help vulnerable people during the cost of living crisis.
The Chancellor will deliver his Budget this month on March 6.
Featured image credit: Images Money, Flickr
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