Purpose

The Crisis and Resilience Fund is replacing the Household
Support Fund from April 2026. In quarter 4, National Government will give us
the final detail of what will be included within the fund, and we will shape
our offer accordingly and will bring the Day 1 support service to Cabinet for
agreement to commence on 1 April 2026. This ensures there is no break in crisis
and critical services whilst the longer-term resilience programme is developed
to align with the new criteria.

Content

(a)   
That the day one continuation of critical crisis
and resilience projects in line with the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF)
criteria project proposals, be approved.

 

(b)   
It was noted that local authorities must allocate
CRF funding to provide financial support towards housing needs, to those who
face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs. This would replace the current
Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) scheme ending on the 31 March 2026.

 

(c)   
It was noted that once more information relating
to the administration of the new fund was available from Government, a further
report would be submitted to People and Health Overview Committee for
consideration.

 

 

Reason for the decision

 

To ensure Dorset Council was safe, legal and compliant with
the CRF criteria and that there was no loss of critical crisis and resilience
support whilst further development work was undertaken within Dorset Council
and with our strategic community delivery partners.

 

CRF Guidance stated that authorities were expected to
maintain existing levels of spending on Housing Payments, using the FYE March
2026 allocations for DHPs as a guide. The Housing Payment would closely
replicate existing DHP guidelines and would adopt a phased transition over the
3-year funding period.