Enfield Council has been handed £5m to help local people manage the rising cost of living via the government’s Household Support Fund

Pounds and pence stacked up on a table — credit Sarah Agnew via Unsplash

Enfield residents “struggling with the rising cost of living” are set to be helped financially thanks to the continuation of a government fund.

Enfield Council has received more than £5million specifically to help local residents via the Household Support Fund, which the Labour government announced it was extending last year.

The cash will be used to help vulnerable households pay for essentials like food, gas, electricity, water, and other everyday living costs. Some of the money will also support community organisations that help people in need.

The £5m will be used in several ways, including £300,000 for people who apply for help with essentials; £250,000 for local charities and community groups that support residents in need (via the Enfield Together Fund); £1m to help families at risk of homelessness with moving costs; support for families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF); help for care leavers setting up their first homes; a £770,000 hardship fund to support people struggling to pay their council tax; plus services to help people manage their money and deal with debt.

The council says it is also investing in longer-term support, aimed at preventing hardship in the longer term like helping people with disabilities find work and improving access to vital local services.

Deputy council leader Tim Leaver said: “We know many people are still struggling with rising prices. This funding will help families keep their homes warm, buy food, and stay safe during tough times. We’re using this money to give both short-term help and long-term support, with help from our amazing community groups.”

Residents can find further information online:
Visit enfield.gov.uk/HouseholdSupportFund

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.