The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Vulnerable people in South Holland could face “hunger and destitution” if a £3.5million crisis fund is withdrawn.
More than 8,000 people in crisis have been provided with emergency help with such basic necessities as food, drinking water, clothing, personal hygiene products and electricity across the county in the past year.
But the Government is set to withdraw the money it provides to local authorities to help people in dire need when the current three-year programme ends in 2015.
The decision has prompted fears that thousands of people will be left with nowhere to turn in an emergency, such as a delay in receiving benefits, their homes flooding or if they are forced to flee a violent partner.
In Lincolnshire more than £1.2million was spent in the 2013/14 financial year – over £300,000 on providing more than 18,000 food parcels to those who could not afford to put food on the table for themselves and their families.
In 70 per cent of cases, emergency requests for food were met within just two hours.
The majority of applications for help have been from the county’s most deprived areas, including Spalding.
Lisa Barwell, manager of South Holland Citizens Advice Bureau, said: “As welfare reform takes hold and people experience delays or disputes in benefit payments or maybe sudden deterioration in health and wellbeing, it really can be a lifeline.
“We all never know when we will need help and support and we must ensure the most vulnerable in our community continue to receive the support they need.”
But the report which went before Lincolnshire County Council’s community and public safety scrutiny committee last week highlights the concerns for the future for those who need such emergency help.
The fears have led for a call on Government to rethink its scrapping of its £327million national emergency welfare fund.
The Local Government Association has said: “Vulnerable people will face hunger and destitution if the scheme to help individuals who face emergencies or have fallen on hard times is scrapped.”
Lincolnshire County Council is now looking at ways of dealing with the impending withdrawal of the fund, saying one area to explore could be to offer loans to replace the current process of supplying goods.
It could also look at revising the eleigibility criteria for those who receive help and working with a benevolent fund.
It may also consider continuing with the current system, but focusing more on prevention and using any underspend from this year for future years, but it is feared it could end up facing a legal challenge if it fails to meet the needs of the most vulnerable.
