£1.6m boost to help residents tackle cost of living crisis

The extra money will be used to boost the existing Havering Helps emergency assistance fund, alongside providing additional support to vulnerable residents including children, pensioners and care leavers. 

The £1.6million comes from a government grant for local authorities to use before the end of the financial year. 

The funds will be used to support a number of schemes the Council currently runs to help vulnerable residents and communities. This includes:

• over £600,000 to extend the Havering Helps emergency assistance scheme, the fund that allows cash-strapped residents to apply for help with food, household bills and money to buy and replace broken white goods (washing machines, ovens and fridge freezers)
• £400,000 to continue our School Holiday Meal Scheme for the February half-term and Easter holidays
• £260,000 for pensioners in receipt of Council Tax Support - with £50 credit to their Council Tax accounts which can be transferred to their bank accounts
• £150,000 for care leavers to help with their fuel and food bills

Extra money will also be allocated for children’s accommodation and for families and children coming to the borough under the Ukraine Visa Scheme.

Councillor Ray Morgon, Leader of Havering Council, said:

“As more and more people across the borough start feeling the pinch this winter, it's important that the Council does everything it can to help residents protect themselves from the rising cost of living. 

“I am pleased to be able to extend the Havering Helps fund and to also further support some of our most vulnerable residents. 

“The reality is that this crisis is only just beginning, and many more families are going to face hardship over the coming months.

"These funds will go directly to help those people in Havering that need it most, and I am glad we are able to do what we can despite the Council's own financial challenges. 

“Winter is coming – but please know that you are not alone and we will do all we can to help you keep food on the table to stay warm and well.”

The new financial help comes alongside the Council’s cost of living online hub, which brings together all of the support available to residents, Havering’s new network of Warm Spaces and our community roadshows.