Member

The Secretary of State also considered what other funding was available to support people with housing costs. The DWP funds local authorities—which we believe are best placed to assess local need—to help support people to meet a shortfall in rent costs or to help to move properties. This is currently delivered through discretionary housing payments. As the noble Viscount, Lord Younger, mentioned, from April in England, the crisis and resilience fund will replace the household support fund and incorporate DHPs, streamlining support into a single fund. We are investing £842 million a year—that is £1 billion including the Barnett consequential for the devolved Administrations —to reform crisis support. This new fund is the first multi-year crisis support fund, which will make a real difference to local authorities’ ability to plan how they can give support to those who need it. The Scottish Government launched their version—