Councillor Jim McMahon

Agreed at a recent meeting of the council’s cabinet, the fund will help to prevent homelessness by sustaining tenancies and will alleviate fuel poverty and child poverty by assisting tenants experiencing severe financial stress.

Support will be provided to tenants facing short to medium-term financial challenges in a number of ways including reducing or paying off rent arrears, providing fuel support and in exceptional circumstances, providing direct financial assistance.

Councillor Jim McMahon, spokesperson for housing, welfare and poverty, social care, mental wellbeing and addiction and recovery, said: “I am really pleased that Cabinet has taken the decision to establish a Tenants Support Fund to help alleviate the financial pressure on our tenants caused by the cost of living crisis.

“The fund will be used alongside existing financial support or will be used where other solutions aren’t available. It will be open to tenant experiencing difficulty paying their rent or fuel costs and are at risk of losing their tenancy as a result. Applicants will also be offered wellbeing support to help improve their quality of life.

“The fund will be administered by the Universal Credit Support Team and tenants will be able to apply directly via a dedicated email address or the Neighbourhood Housing Teams with details on how to apply being provided soon.”