Reuse Network calls for urgent extension of the Household Support Fund

New research by Barnardo’s reveals an increase in the extent of bed poverty in England caused by rising financial hardship and the cost of living crisis, which highlights the urgent need to extend the Household Support Fund.

Their findings, which follows on from their report  No crib for a bed: the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on bed poverty, reveals that crisis requests for help with children’s beds and bedding more than quadrupled between 2018-19 and 2022-23, rising from 4,000 to 18,000. However more than half of the requests are turned down as local crisis support schemes fail to keep up with the overwhelming demand.

The study reveals that 62% of local welfare spending was funded by the Government’s Household Support Fund (HSF) in the previous year. However, the HSF is set to end in March 2024, which poses a significant threat to the wellbeing of vulnerable families, leaving them with limited options and the risk of plunging further into poverty.

Joint public letter on the need to urgently extend the Household Support Fund

Reuse Network, has joined over 120 organisations, to warn the Chancellor of the devastating consequences of losing this vital support and to extend the Housing Support Fund.

It is essential that the Government act now to protect the most vulnerable members of society and avoid long-lasting damage to individuals and communities. Without action, we face a hole in local crisis support that neither Local Authorities nor the charity sector can fill.

You can read the public letter here and Barnardo’s report here. You can also write to your MP urging them to take action now.

Work with us to tackle Bed Poverty

At the Reuse Network, we work with reuse charities and commercial partners to help alleviate furniture poverty to ensure everyone has a sustainable home. If you are able to support us in our mission with funding, or donations of beds or mattresses, please get in touch with our commercial manager, hannah.jordan@reuse-network.org.uk