Applications now closed: £1 million fund to tackle food insecurity in social homes

As part of a £2.4 million Scottish Government Winter Hardship Fund announced to help people struggling to afford food and other essentials, SFHA has secured £1,000,000 to ensure social landlords can respond to the challenges their tenants are facing this winter.

Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government, Shona Robison announced the funding on a visit to Prospect Community Housing in Wester Hailes, Edinburgh, where she heard how staff are helping residents through debt and income advice services.

She said: “I know people are struggling with the cost of food and other essentials right now, and this additional funding will get more support to some of those who need it most this winter.

“We are working with partners to prioritise urgent cash-first action when it comes to food insecurity, and this will take some of the pressure off food banks.

"We want people to make sure they are getting all the support they are entitled to, so I encourage anyone who is struggling financially to get advice on what support they may qualify for - through their local authority, a local advice service, or Social Security Scotland as well as checking out our cost of living website.”

Sally Thomas, Chief Executive of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA), said: “Housing associations and co-operatives are doing everything they can to help tenants keep their heads above water, heat their homes and put food on their table this winter. However, our members are increasingly reporting that tenants are facing impossible decisions on and between household bills and food as costs soar.

“It’s simply not right that anyone in Scotland should be going hungry this winter. As we continue to face this unprecedented crisis, this money will be critical to helping ensure social landlords can provide a response to food insecurity that is tailored to the needs of their tenants and communities, maintaining dignity and choice.”

The SFHA Winter Hardship Fund aims to provide support to social landlords’ tenants who are facing food insecurity by providing a dignified cash first approach for those most in need. RSL’s and Cooperatives can request up to £25,000 from this fund which will open to applications at 09:00 on Monday 23 January, and close at 17:00 on Friday 27 January 2023.

These are also available in the downloads section on the right hand side of this article. If successful funding must be spent by 31 March 2023.

Activities can include, but are not limited to:

Pantry membership costs and allowance
Cash/Vouchers that could be used to buy food and other essentials
Mobile phone and internet top ups
Travel expenses
Buying in of local existing provision that will directly assist tenants to reduce outgoings examples could include welfare benefits or debt advice, where the housing associations do not provide such services in-house

For an informal discussion in advance of submitting your bid, please contact innovation@sfha.co.uk