Extra £1.8m to help people facing cost-of-living crisis this winter
Knowsley Council has secured an extra £1.862m from central government for the local authority's Household Support Fund (HSF) and will be used to support people who are struggling financially. Even though the fund was designed to be temporary, it has now become a vital source of support for people who have nowhere left to turn.
The HSF was introduced in October 2021 to help people following the Covid-19 pandemic. Post-covid, the fund evolved into an important income supplement to people struggling due to the cost of living crisis.
The cash - distributed via local councils - was designed to cover a wide-range of different expenditures including financial support for household bills such as energy costs, water, food and other essential items.
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Recently, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Liz Kendall, announced a further £421 million would be allocated nationally through the HSF and Sefton Council will receive £2,435,111 of those funds to be made available between October and the end of March 2025.
Councillors in Knowsley have now agreed a package of support, both direct to families in need and to community groups and organisations working in the borough. It comes after the local authority confirmed they would receive a further £1.862m from the HSF fund, which had previously been due to end in September 2024.
Among the agreed financial allocations is the continuation of food vouchers during school holidays for families whose children are eligible for free school meals. The funding will also enable the council to continue to provide food and essentials for residents in need, including helping with the cost of fuel and other utility bills.
Cllr Jayne Lonergan, Cabinet Member for Resources at Knowsley Council, said: “We’re really proud of the support that we have been providing for residents in need and families who are really struggling as a result of the cost of living crisis.
“The extension of the Household Support Fund is allowing us to continue this financial lifeline for another six months, which will provide much needed reassurance for many people in Knowsley, especially as we head into winter.”