Rushmoor Borough Council has welcomed the introduction of the new Crisis and Resilience Fund, which is designed to help residents on low incomes who are struggling financially or facing an unexpected financial setback.
The fund, which replaced the Household Support Fund from 1 April 2026, is a three-year government programme running until March 2029. It aims to provide urgent help in a crisis while also connecting residents with wider advice and support to improve their longer-term financial resilience.
Support includes help with urgent financial needs, housing cost shortfalls and work with local organisations to strengthen early intervention and longer-term support for people experiencing hardship.
For example, Aisha* and her six-year-old daughter, Lily*, were getting ready to leave a domestic abuse refuge and begin again in a new home. But the property had bare concrete floors throughout. Lily* has non-verbal autism and often bangs her heels against the floor, putting her at risk of injury. There were also concerns that she could pick up loose pieces of concrete and ingest them. With very limited savings, Aisha* was unable to afford the suitable flooring her family needed. After providing a quote for £1,950, her request received a higher-level review because it was above £1,000. A Crisis Payment of £1,950 was awarded, helping Aisha* and Lily* move into a safer, more suitable home. (Anonymised case study provided by the Citizens Advice Service).
During the first five months of the fund, from April to August 2026, around 93 applications for crisis payments were made by Rushmoor residents. Of those, 35 were approved fully or in part, with approximately £13,409 awarded so far.
Councillor Sophie Porter, Healthy Communities and Active Lives Portfolio Holder, said: “We know that many residents continue to feel the pressure of rising living costs, and unexpected financial shocks can quickly become overwhelming. The Crisis and Resilience Fund is an important part of the support available locally, helping people with urgent needs while also focusing on longer-term resilience.
“We will continue to work closely with Hampshire County Council, Citizens Advice Rushmoor and local voluntary and community partners to understand demand, identify gaps in support and make sure residents can get the help they need.”
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