Crisis and Resilience Fund

The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) is funded by the UK Government and delivered through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

In Havering, the fund is used to provide emergency financial support, help with essential living costs, and support residents at risk of financial hardship or homelessness.

It also supports work to build longer-term financial resilience and reduce repeat crisis need. Over time, the fund will be used flexibly to balance immediate crisis support with strengthening prevention and resilience activity, informed by local need and evidence.

How Havering uses the fund

Crisis support

To provide immediate help to residents facing urgent financial hardship, including those at risk of:

  • Running out of money for essential living costs
  • Losing their home or facing housing instability
  • Sudden changes in income or benefits

This includes short-term, discretionary support towards where needed to prevent homelessness or support housing stability.

Prevention and resilience

To reduce repeat financial crisis by supporting residents to:

  • Access income and benefit support
  • Connect with local advice and services
  • Improve financial stability over time
  • Access early help before issues escalate

Emergency Assistance Scheme (EAS)

The Emergency Assistance Scheme remains the main route for crisis support in Havering.

The scheme helps prevent situations escalating into wider crisis, including homelessness or severe financial distress.

Apply for emergency assistance

We also use information from repeat applications to help connect residents with wider advice and support that may help improve financial stability over time.

Emergency assistance scheme policy

Working with local partners

Support through the CRF is delivered with local partners across Havering, including:

This partnership approach helps ensure residents can access support quickly and through trusted local organisations.