Helping with financial worries

Housing associations are responding to the coronavirus outbreak by helping residents with financial concerns, including working with foodbanks and local social enterprises.

Delivering essentials to vulnerable residents

Community Gateway teamed up with local social enterprise the Larder to deliver more than 4,500 food parcels to some of the most vulnerable families in Preston. The Larder promotes healthy, nutritious food that is local, seasonal and waste-free. As part of their coronavirus response, they set up a delivery service, providing free fresh nutritional ready-cooked meals to vulnerable people across Preston.

UK food banks have seen demand soar during lockdown, putting significant demand on already overstretched resources. Accent Housing are putting a call out to the housing sector to support an initiative which aims to raise £1m for the Trussell Trust, which supports the UK’s largest network of food banks.

Metropolitan Thames Valley partnered with The Chalkhill Community Trust Fund and Asda in Wembley, north-west London, to reach out to some of its most at-risk residents in the area with free essential food parcels and vouchers.

First Choice Homes Oldham’s Community Impact Advisor Annarosa has helped one of their residents erase nearly £3,000 worth of debt after putting in an application to United Utilities Trust Fund – an independent organisation committed to helping people out of poverty.

Annarosa also signed the resident up to affordable food service The Bread and Butter Thing, and referred her to First Choice’s Directions Team who have been helping her explore some different employment routes during lockdown.

Hundred Housing Society has focused on a supportive and personal approach to residents have difficulty with their finances, helping them in a number of ways including:

Applying for benefits including Universal Credit (UC) and Discretionary Housing Payments.
Applying for grants – one resident was awarded a £200 “Stay Well” grant paid to her electricity provider which cleared a debt and put credit on her meter, and another was awarded money from Cambridge Central Aid towards carpets.
Issuing Foodbank vouchers.
Making referrals to Money Matters and Turn2Us for more specialist debt and benefit advice, P3 for support and Emmaus for furniture.
Signposting to agencies including Anglian and Cambridge Water who offer reduced tariffs.
Giving advice on self-employed grants and the council tax reduction scheme.

#CommunitiesTogether

A lovely video that highlights one of the projects funded through the @thegoodexchange Sovereign Coronavirus Fund. @AspireRyde is a charity on the #iow providing inspirational support for their community. @sovereignha #sovereign pic.twitter.com/JTwNcGqvcN
— Toby Eaglen (@EaglenToby) May 18, 2020

Our office canteen is looking a little different at the moment! We’ve bought food from our wholesale suppliers and are preparing food parcels to support local food banks. #TeamBradford pic.twitter.com/3VwPElTS9w
— Incommunities Group (@IncommunitiesHA) March 31, 2020

We're delighted that the funds fast tracked by the @BerniciaFdn have been used to support @TheBAYFoodbank.
They need more supplies to support people through the coronavirus outbreak and beyond visit:https://t.co/jDEj627JMw for details on how to help.#StayPositive_StaySafe 🌈 pic.twitter.com/dYkrisi684
— Bernicia (@BerniciaGroup) May 5, 2020

Cornwall Community Foundation’s Emergency Fund is welcoming funding applications from community groups. @CoastlineHouse has donated £5,000 to this appeal, which has awarded £414,000 in emergency grants to 120 organisations so far. #CommunitiesTogether https://t.co/mMsEFOCaVd
— Coastline Housing (@CoastlineHouse) May 18, 2020

#CommunitiesTogether celebrates housing associations’ work with residents, partners and communities in the fight against coronavirus. See more examples of #CommunitiesTogether.

Helping with financial worries

Delivering essentials to vulnerable residents

#CommunitiesTogether

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