Councils get 拢49.5m to help people with essentials

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, The Household Support Fund can be used to support vulnerable residents with essentials, including energy bills and food
  • Author, Shehnaz Khan
  • Role, 大象传媒 News, West Midlands

Councils across the West Midlands have been allocated a share of 拢49.5m to help those struggling with the cost of living.

Awarded through an extension to the government's , from 1 April the money can be used to support vulnerable residents with essentials, including energy and water bills and food.

The programme, which launched in October 2021, has been extended several times in the past but was due to finish on 31 March.

The Department of Work and Pensions said the new extension meant people in the region could access help with essentials.

Mel Stride, Work and Pensions secretary, added: 鈥淲e鈥檝e protected vulnerable people from cost of living pressures with the biggest support package in Europe, preventing 1.3m people falling into poverty."

Since it first launched in October 2021, people across the region have received 拢297.1m of Household Support Fund investment.

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