Plans to coordinate support for residents during cost of living crisis
Published: 8 September 2022
A package of advice and support measures aimed at helping Exeter residents through the cost of living crisis is being coordinated by the City Council.
The Council is looking to coordinate the response of the community and voluntary sector to the ongoing crisis, which could leave households struggling to pay energy and other bills this winter.
Working with the community and voluntary sector, all options will be explored including providing access to warm community spaces and expanding community food larder schemes.
Residents and businesses will be able to access information on the availability of direct financial support that may be on offer, or be signposted to an appropriate organisation that can help.
Plans are currently being worked on and it is hoped that more details of the support programme will be revealed early in October.
Cllr Martin Pearce, Lead Councillor for Communities & Homelessness Prevention, said: “There are difficult times ahead and the situation throughout the country is very challenging. There is a cost of living emergency which is on-going.
“We’ve been able to identify some really positive actions that the Council has already taken in terms of distributing grants set up by the Government, and a lot of people who have benefitted from that.
“But we are also really aware that it doesn’t touch everybody and doesn’t go as far as some people will need in terms of support for the winter ahead.
“So we are looking to identify what we as a Council can do, within the very limited powers and resources that we have, to bring together a lot of the great work that is already going on in the city, through our partners in the voluntary and community sector, like churches and charities, who are already out there are trying to fill some of those gaps.”
Cllr Pearce said residents, business and a wide range of organisations are worried about the cost of living crisis and face a very difficult winter.
He added: “We are really aware that more needs to happen. There is a piece of work starting now which is going to be carried out at pace, and we are hoping to come back with a report for the next meeting in early October.
“We know it is going to be difficult and we are aware of the challenges. We face them as individuals ourselves, and we want to make sure that there is a support network in place for as many people as possible.
“That could be looking at providing warm spaces for people to go and get some respite from the cold during the winter months, allowing access to community spaces. We will be pulling a network together which will try to give hope and solace to the people of Exeter.”
Members of the Executive heard the Council has so far paid out £6.47m in government Cost of Living Support grants to 44,293 households in Exeter, and this will rise to £7.1m to 52,499 households by 30 November.
A further Household Support Fund Scheme will be delivered by the Council on behalf of the Department for Works and Pensions, between October 2022 and March 2023.
It is expected to support households in the most need, particularly those who may not be eligible for the other support government support including the Cost of Living Payments.
More information and details on how to apply for Cost of Living Support is available on the Council’s website