The Cabinet Member Signing meeting on Friday 10 July 2026 approved a significant package of measures to support residents experiencing financial hardship through the interim 2026/27 Crisis and Resilience Fund Policy. Key decisions included extending free school meal holiday vouchers until September 2026, expanding the Financial Support Team, and increasing the number of crisis fund decision-makers.

Interim 2026/27 Crisis and Resilience Fund Policy

Councillor Jo Kuper, Cabinet Member for Tackling Inequality and Resident Services, approved a comprehensive plan for the allocation of the Government's Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF). The council received an annual allocation of £5,932,161 for the three-year period from April 2026 to March 2029.

The approved measures aim to provide immediate crisis support while also fostering longer-term financial resilience. A key decision was the extension of 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.

Significant investment was also approved for the expansion of the Financial Support Team, with an estimated expenditure of £1,742,338. This expansion is intended to increase outreach activity and community-based support, with extended operating hours for the financial support helpline to improve accessibility. Additionally, £200,432 was approved to increase the number of crisis fund decision-makers by two Benefits Officers for a period of two years, enabling more comprehensive assessments and support.

To streamline the application process, £30,000 was allocated for the development of a new online application form that will integrate multiple crisis fund applications and a benefits calculator. This digital improvement is expected to simplify access for residents and provide instant information about potential benefit entitlements.

A strategic community coordination role will be funded with an estimated £220,221 to support the design, co-production, and delivery of the borough's approach to tackling poverty. This role will work with service areas and council partners to strengthen coordination of anti-poverty work across Haringey.

The council also approved estimated expenditure of £206,357 for the administration of the scheme, including staff resources for Housing Payments and the year two cost of the Low-Income Family Tracker.

The decision noted that all costs are estimates and could vary based on actual demand. Delegated authority was granted to the Corporate Director for Environment and Resident Experience to manage the budget in accordance with the policy principles and outcome measures. The policy itself will be updated to reflect the approved recommendations.

The allocation of the remaining year one CRF funding, estimated at £1,575,332, was delegated to the Corporate Director for Environment and Resident Experience, in consultation with Councillor Kuper. This also includes authority to allocate year two CRF funding for the Easter school holiday period if required. The ongoing development of an Anti-Poverty Strategy was also noted, which will inform future updates to the policy.

The reasons for the decision highlighted Haringey Council's commitment to supporting residents facing financial hardship, acknowledging the Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) funding through the CRF. The DWP expects local authorities to invest in preventative measures as well as direct crisis support. The decision aligns with the aims of the scheme by targeting funding at residents with the greatest identified need. External modelling indicated that a significant proportion of benefits available to eligible residents in Haringey remained unclaimed, estimated at £160 million. The approved expenditure supports services designed to help residents access their entitlements and navigate the benefits system.

Alternative options considered included delaying implementation until a full year one policy was developed, which was rejected due to the potential delay in financial support. Committing the entire allocation at this stage was also not pursued, as the council's Anti-Poverty Strategy is still under development and expected to inform future allocations. 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 the identified needs within the borough.

The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) replaces the Household Support Fund (HSF) and Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP). The CRF guidance allows local authorities to determine how funding is allocated within the programme's objectives, which include providing crisis support, additional housing cost support, delivering resilience services, and improving community collaboration. The report noted that poverty in Haringey is significant, with around 26% of people living below the poverty line after housing costs, and child poverty being particularly acute at around 39%. The Indices of Deprivation 2025 identified Haringey as the third most deprived London borough and the 29th most deprived nationally.