Councillors to discuss funding for households facing financial hardship

Councillors will be discussing proposed allocations of funding to support households experiencing financial hardship at the Cabinet meeting on Thursday 19 March. 

From April 2026, the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) will replace the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) Household Support Fund. The fund covers a wider remit than the Household Support Fund, which primarily focuses on crisis response.

Activities funded by the CRF should build longer-term financial resilience in the city by ensuring those receiving emergency support are also signposted or referred for additional help to prevent a crisis recurring in the future. 

The 4 key areas of the Crisis and Resilience Fund are:

  • Crisis payments
  • Housing payments
  • Resilience services
  • Community co-ordination 

Although the fund is a 3-year scheme, the current proposals only cover the first year to allow time for further engagement with residents and partners to inform future allocations.

A fair and inclusive city

Councillor Jacob Taylor, Cabinet Member for Finance and City Regeneration said: “These proposals aim to provide targeted support to some of the most vulnerable people in Brighton & Hove while building longer-term financial resilience.

“We’re placing a greater focus on prevention by making sure those receiving emergency help are signposted to additional services and resources to help lift families and households out of poverty and prevent the crisis from reoccurring in the future.

“Tackling financial hardship and instability will bring significant health and wellbeing benefits to our residents and communities, as poverty is widely understood to contribute to ill health and mental health issues have well-researched links to debt.

“Our priority for the Crisis and Resilience Fund is to help Brighton & Hove become a fairer and more inclusive city. We’ll continue to listen to residents and partners to make sure our scheme supports those who need it most.”

Crisis and housing support

Crisis payments address immediate needs caused by a sudden change in financial circumstances, such as lost income, urgent bills or unexpected events. 

Funding allows one-off emergency assistance for essentials like food, utilities and basic household items. 

We're proposing to allocate a pot for local food projects, food banks and community-based organisations to enable the provision of food and essential items directly to their client groups. 

Housing payments help vulnerable households meet rent shortfalls and other housing costs. This is replacing the current national ‘Discretionary Housing Payments’ scheme.

Resilience services

Resilience services are aimed at building financial stability for residents and local communities through advice and support.

We’re proposing to fund new posts in the city’s Best Start Family Hubs to provide families with holistic support beyond financial crisis assistance to prevent reoccurrence, alongside funding for the council’s welfare advisory team and for partner advice, support and energy efficiency organisations in the city.

We’re also proposing to hold more cost of living events during the school holidays, following 2 successful events in 2025/26. 

These events brought together advisers from across the voluntary sector and council services, allowing attendees to receive immediate crisis help through vouchers alongside advice with specific issues.

Help for families during school holidays

The CRF is needs-based and our proposals target support for families experiencing the greatest hardship. 

While automatic vouchers for all Free School Meals households in the holidays are no longer permitted under the national rules of the scheme, wider support is being strengthened.

Proposals for support include Best Start Family Hubs, cost of living events and the Holidays, Activities and Food Programme.

Support with the cost of living

You can find information on help and support on our cost of living hub. This includes help with food, meals and shopping, help with energy bills, energy efficiency advice and tips and how to keep warm and well.

You can also find information about how to improve your general health and your mental health.

Allocations of the fund aim to support delivery of the Cost of Living Plan by reducing the impacts of poverty for low-income households while ensuring local advice services can help people reach a more sustainable position.