HACT launches Energy Hardship Fund in bid to tackle fuel poverty
The Energy Hardship Fund will provide residents with energy and cash vouchers that they can put toward the cost of heating their home.
HACT has launched a new campaign in a bid to raise £1 million for residents struggling with the cost of their energy bills this winter.
The charitable trust has set up the Energy Hardship Fund, with the aim of providing residents with energy and cash vouchers that they can put toward the cost of heating their home.
HACT is seeking corporate donations to the fund from housing organisations, partners, and friends of the sector.
The group’s call to action has already seen a strong response from across the sector, with the following organisations supporting the fund:
- National Housing Federation
- Scottish Federation of Housing Associations
- Community Housing Cymru
- Housing Digital
- Chartered Institute of Housing
- TPAS
- PlaceShapers
- G15
- Northern Housing Consortium
- The Centre for Responsible Credit
- Ocean Media
- Housing Quality Network
Across the country, low-income households, including those in social housing, are facing the prospect of rising energy prices. At the same time, cuts to universal credit and the long-term impact of the Covid-19 pandemic are making it harder to heat homes affordably.
Fuel poverty is a longstanding issue in the sector, and projections suggest many more households could fall into fuel poverty this winter. The Energy Hardship Fund has been established to tackle this threat.
HACT has a track record of managing and administering similar fuel voucher funds. Last winter, it administered funding from the Energy Savings Trust and Scottish Government to support over 16,000 households with their heating and energy costs.
HACT also works with voucher provider Charis and its Let’s Talk Shop portal to make access to these vouchers as easy as possible for residents.
Andrew van Doorn, Chief Executive, HACT, said: “Last year, in response to the pandemic, HACT raised and distributed £1 million in energy vouchers to over 16,000 resident households across the UK through a network of over 160 housing associations.
“This year, the need for energy vouchers is even higher. So we have launched the Energy Hardship Fund.
“Our aim is to fundraise for another £1 million that we can distribute through our existing networks to social housing residents across the UK.
“If we can achieve this, we can demonstrate the power of the sector when it acts together.”
Gavin Smart, CEO of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), said: “CIH is proud to support the Energy Hardship Fund.
“Many people will be experiencing fuel poverty this winter, a situation only exacerbated by the recent cuts to Universal Credit payments.
“The fund’s voucher scheme will make a real difference to people struggling with fuel poverty. So it is vital that people and organisations come together to support the fund.
“The fund has the potential to make a huge difference this winter, and, the more support the fund receives, the greater the impact it will have.”
Sally Thomas, Chief Executive of SFHA, said: “Across the UK, many tenants are experiencing serious financial difficulties due to the increasing cost of living, rising fuel prices and loss of income caused by the pandemic.
“The Energy Hardship Fund demonstrates how the social housing sector is stepping in to collectively support those who are struggling, and SFHA welcomes this initiative.”