The Cabinet Member Signing meeting on Friday 10 July 2026 approved an interim policy for the 2026/27 Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF), allocating significant funding towards supporting residents experiencing financial hardship. Key approvals under the interim policy included extending free school meal holiday vouchers, expanding the Financial Support Team, and increasing the number of crisis fund decision-makers.

Interim Crisis and Resilience Fund Policy

The Cabinet Member Signing approved an interim policy for the 2026/27 Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF). This fund, provided by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), aims to support low-income households facing material deprivation, assist with rental costs, deliver resilience services, and improve community collaboration.

The decision noted the annual CRF allocation from the Government of £5,932,161 for the three-year period from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029. A previous expenditure of £2,470,000 authorised on 24 March 2026 was also noted.

Key approvals under the interim policy include:

• Extension of Free School Meal Holiday Vouchers: The policy extends free school meal holiday vouchers until September 2026, at an estimated additional cost of £966,000. Following this, a more targeted approach to holiday payments for households experiencing financial hardship will be implemented. This universal provision is the maximum period allowed under DWP guidance.
• Expansion of the Financial Support Team: An estimated £1,742,338 has been approved for the expansion of the Financial Support Team. This expansion aims to increase outreach activity and community-based support, with extended operating hours for the financial support helpline to improve accessibility. The team will be expanded by 14 officers, including new Financial Support Advisor and Financial Support Officer roles, and an additional manager.
• Increase in Crisis Fund Decision-Makers: An estimated £200,432 has been approved to increase the number of crisis fund decision-makers by two Benefits Officers for a period of two years. This will allow for more comprehensive assessments and associated support to be provided to residents.
• Streamlined Online Application Form: A one-off expenditure of £30,000 has been approved for the development of a streamlined online application form. This form will integrate multiple crisis fund applications and a benefits calculator, enabling residents to apply for various support measures through a single portal and receive instant information about potential benefit entitlements.
• Strategic Community Coordination Role: An estimated £220,221 has been approved to fund a strategic community coordination role. This role will support the design, co-production, and delivery of the borough's approach to tackling poverty, working with service areas and council partners to strengthen coordination of anti-poverty work.
• Administration Costs: An estimated £206,357 has been approved for the administration of the scheme, including staff resources for Housing Payments and the second year's cost of the Low-Income Family Tracker.

The decision also noted that all costs are estimates and could vary. Delegated authority was approved for the Corporate Director for Environment and Resident Experience to manage the budget in accordance with the policy's principles and criteria. The policy will be updated to reflect the approved recommendations, and the ongoing development of an Anti-Poverty Strategy will inform future updates.

The report highlighted that approximately 26% of people in Haringey live in households below the poverty line after housing costs, with child poverty being particularly acute at around 39%. The council's commitment to supporting residents experiencing financial hardship is underscored by this investment, which aims to help residents access benefits they are entitled to and navigate the benefits system more effectively.

Alternative options considered included delaying implementation, which was discounted due to the potential delay in financial support, and committing the entire allocation at once, which was not pursued as the Anti-Poverty Strategy is still under development. Other options, such as ending all school holiday support after September 2026 or implementing a smaller expansion of support teams, were rejected as insufficient to meet identified needs.