Rochdale council is to launch a new £4.6m package of support aimed at helping the most vulnerable people in the borough. The cash has been allocated via the government’s Household Support Fund (HSF) for 2023/24, and is targeted at those who would otherwise struggle to buy food, pay essential utility bills or meet other essential living or housing costs.
A council report notes the fallout from the pandemic coupled with the cost of living crisis means ‘demand will increase from our population, with thousands more in fuel poverty, in debt or under financial difficulties’. “The number of people claiming out of work benefits has more than doubled and four times more people are accessing emergency food support,” it adds.
“It is important that the council puts in place a comprehensive support package and should in particular support low income families and low income older households, but to include programmes that can reach out and support other people who are struggling.”
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Bosses say it is impossible ‘to capture a full picture of the impact of the cost of living crisis across the borough’ - hence the council proposing four different programmes of support through the HSF funding.
