LINCOLNSHIRE HOUSING PARTNERSHIP
Hardship Fund
The LHP Hardship Fund is set up to support both new and existing customers who may be struggling due to the current cost of living crisis. It will aim to support where there is no alternative external funding, or as a method of topping up funding so all customers can access the same level of support.
Some of the ways which the fund will be distributed include…
- Supermarket vouchers for food, small electrical and household appliances, bedding
- Fuel vouchers
- Curry’s vouchers for white goods – electric cooker, fridges etc
- Argos vouchers for basic furniture – beds, mattresses, sofas etc
- Carpetright voucher for carpeting one essential room where appropriate
The Money Support Service (MSS) at LHP will be responsible for allocating these funds. The MSS will receive a referral for a customer, complete a welfare form with the customer to determine their support needs and reasoning for requesting support (this could be increase in bills, loss of job, etc.) An income and expenditure form will be completed, and evidence is required from the customer to prove their financial hardship via bank statements, for example.
How much financial support will each customer get?
Customers will receive a maximum of £250 per household which will be determined in conversation with the customer dependent on their specific needs.
How will we determine which customers need support?
Following a referral to the MSS we will ascertain what support a customer needs and if appropriate it will come from the Hardship Fund.
Fuel Bank Foundation
The unique Fuel Bank Foundation solution provides same-day help to address self-disconnection. Emergency credits are made to prepayment meters for families in crisis. Any supplier’s meter is topped up within a couple of hours.
Fuel Bank is delivered through a number of trusted community partners up and down our country, from Local Authorities to housing associations, local debt support charities or community groups.
LHP are a partner with the Fuel Bank Foundation and so our Money Support Team advisers can access the vouchers and get them sent to customers of LHP.
