People in Coventry struggling with their finances, and who as a result find themselves in a crisis, will be able to get support from a new national fund.
The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF), funded by the UK Government, will replace both the Household Support Fund (HSF) and Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) nationally and in Coventry from Wednesday 1 April 2026.
Coventry City Council will receive £6.6m for 2026 to 2027 and administer and use the fund to provide Crisis Payments, Housing Payments, Resilience Services and Community Coordination, meaning better more co-ordinated support for residents.
The Government funding is a new multi‑year settlement designed to support long term resilience and reduce the need for crisis intervention.
Cllr Richard Brown, Cabinet Member for Finance, said: “The Government’s national changes aim to simplify and stabilise crisis support. We know in Coventry that people are finding it hard to manage household bills and that’s why we took the decision not to raise Council Tax to the maximum allowed – unlike many other Councils.
“We are also making preparations for the new Crisis Resilience Fund, and we want to help people who need support in the best and simplest way possible that helps people maintain their dignity and independence.”
The Council is talking to a wide range of support services and advice agencies about how partners can work together to help people access the funding. Crisis Payments and Housing Payments are available all year-round while a cash‑first support model will help ensure dignity and flexibility.
The Fund is open to low-income households, not just those currently in receipt of means-tested benefits.
A new web address is being set up and more advice will provided about how people can apply for funding. This will be operating from 1 April.
The new Crisis Resilience Fund will be carefully monitored for the first few weeks and months to check that administrative processes are working as well as possible.