HOUSEHOLDS struggling to pay their bills in Wiltshire are being invited to apply for a support fund to help with the cost of living.
The government has extended its Household Support Fund for another year to help residents most in need.
The seventh round of the fund, known as HSF7, is now open until March 31, 2026.
The fund offers preventative support, including budgeting and cookery classes, and the purchase of energy-efficient appliances like fridges and cookers.
Councillor Clare Cape, Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for public health and coordination with the NHS, said: “We know that many people across Wiltshire are still feeling the pressure of the cost-of-living crisis.
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“The Household Support Fund is a lifeline for those who are struggling to make ends meet. By working closely with our partners, we can ensure that support reaches the people who need it most, helping them to stay safe, warm, and well.”
HSF7 will support a wide range of residents, including:
- • Families with children of all ages
- • Pensioners
- • Unpaid carers
- • Care leavers
- • Disabled people
- • Larger families
- • Single-person households
- • Those facing unexpected financial shocks
- • Gypsy, Roma, Traveller and Boater (GRTB) communities
- • People experiencing homelessness
Belina Eastland of White Horse Housing Association shared how the fund has helped their tenants.
“The last year has been a particularly challenging year for our tenants as it included a rent increase of 7.7% and a 53 week rent year and we also had a large number of tenants migrating from legacy benefits, such as Housing Benefit, to Universal Credit which resulted in many waiting for payments,” a spokesperson said.
“We’re grateful for the support of the Fund; together with our own budget, it has allowed our Housing Officers to target most of our tenants in some way.
“We helped 155 households with children, seventy-two pensioners and thirteen households where there were people with disabilities.
“We are a smaller housing association that makes it a priority to get to know our tenants and understand the challenges they face.
“That is why we work hard to apply for this fund via Wiltshire Council, because we know they will make a real difference.”
Schemes vary from year to year, depending on evidence of need, meaning that people who received support from a previous round, may not be eligible for support during this round.
For cost-of-living advice and support, or to speak to someone about eligibility for HSF support, residents can contact the Wellbeing Hub by emailing wellbeinghub@wiltshire.gov.uk or calling 0300 003 4576 (Monday to Thursday, 9am–5pm; Friday, 9am–4pm, excluding Bank Holidays).
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