That the Household Support Fund (HSF5) for 6 months from 1 October 2024 be allocated as follows:

1.       Fuel support £170,000.

2.       Food vouchers issued through Family Hub £30,000.

3.       Care experienced young people £63,600.

4.       Financial support for households with acute financial challenges (All household types, applications via partners) £145,000.

5.       Households, who are liable for Council Tax and entitled to Working Age Council Tax Support at October 1^st 2024: £450,000 (a £75 payment credited to their Council Tax account).

6.       Essential linked to energy and water e.g., warm clothing, ovens, for those in receipt of a disability benefit or children under 5 £30,000.

7.       Provision of additional debt and benefit advice £63,750.

8.       Food banks £94,000.

9.       Social supermarkets £77,000.

10.     Housing costs – rent in advance, where required to households who are excluded the Discretionary Housing Payments scheme as they are not in receipt of welfare benefits £30,000.

11.     Funding for a Torbay Food Alliance Coordinator Post (up to 31 March 2025) £15,000.

12.     Contingency budget (will be allocated after a review of demand in December 2024) £4,707.

To meet the grant restrictions and prioritise addressing hunger, poverty and housing for those in need within Torbay.

None

This decision will be implemented immediately.

The Household Support Fund (HSF) was introduced in October 2021, providing councils with funding to support those in the community most negatively impacted by the cost-of-living crisis.  The funding has been extended to cover 1 October 2024 – 31 March 2025 with Torbay receiving an allocation of £1,235,357 in the latest scheme (HSF6).

The Fund is intended to cover a wide range of low-income households in need, including families with children of all ages, pensioners, unpaid carers, care leavers and disabled people, larger families, single-person households, and those struggling with one-off financial shocks or unforeseen events.

Support can also be provided to fund additional debt and benefits advice.

Reasonable administrative expenses can be charged to the grant.

None