Local authorities have had to administer a multitude of support schemes since the start of the pandemic. Getting critical support to those who need it most has called for innovative approaches to identifying need and targeting support.
As part of the funding packages announced by the Government, £421 million was made available to local authorities in England to support households during the final stages of the economic recovery. This was called the Household Support Fund (HSF).
HSF came into effect on 6 October 2021 and needed to be spent by the end of March 2022. Some guidance was provided by the DWP, however the funding allocation was at the discretion of each local authority.