Release date: October 21, 2021
Photo: Linda Bestwick – stock.adobe.com
The Household Support Fund, announced earlier this month, will be distributed to households in the community in need of additional help
Rochdale Borough Council is receiving over £ 2.3 million from the government this winter under a £ 500 million fund to help the neediest households with daily necessities.
The Household Support Fund, announced earlier this month, will be distributed to households in the community in need of additional help.
Rochdale Borough Council receives £ 2,337,383 for families to meet daily needs such as groceries, clothing and utilities.
While the government says the fund is “designed for the winter,” Councilor Rachel Massey says the money will replace “only about four weeks’ worth of support” for the district’s most vulnerable.
Councilor Massey, Cabinet Member for Childcare and Education, said, “Nearly 28,000 universal loan applicants in our district have all just lost £ 20 a week, which is half a million pounds of assistance a week.
“This funding only replaces about four weeks of what is stolen from our most vulnerable residents when the prices of food, fuel and other essentials rise.
“During the pandemic, we kept saying that there had to be a long-term solution to ensure adequate funding.
“We were told that there would be no more funding to support disadvantaged households and that came with a loss of £ 20 on universal loans. Fuel bills go up, food costs go up; The pressure on our families is incredible.
“While funding is a scarce commodity we won’t turn up our noses at, this ad hoc sticking tape approach is unfair to our families. What they want are long-term commitments and the reassurance that support for them is properly funded so we all know where we are.
“We’re working really hard now on plans to use this money to help as many residents as possible.”
