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Small supported housing associations ‘urgently need short-term support’, says NHF
The National Housing Federation (NHF) is asking ministers whether housing associations can access the government’s £750m charity rescue fund.
In a statement on its website, the housing association trade body said it is “working with MHCLG [the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government]” to clarify whether the sector will be eligible – particularly “small supported and sheltered housing providers”.
Some such organisations “urgently need short-term support” amid the coronavirus pandemic, the NHF said.
MHCLG has requested evidence of increased costs for housing associations, especially staffing costs, according to the organisation.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled the funding package earlier this month in response to concerns that many charities are facing income losses during the coronavirus crisis, since shops are closed and fundraising events have been cancelled.
At the same time, the third sector is seeing an increased demand for services – including those supporting homeless or other vulnerable people.
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Roughly half of the £750m fund will be allocated directly by government departments to charities deemed to be delivering key services during the crisis, with the rest allocated separately to small and medium-sized organisations.
Most housing associations have some form of charitable status.
“Although housing providers were not explicitly mentioned in the press release announcing the fund, we know that NHF members deliver many of the essential frontline services that were listed,” the NHF statement said.
“We will continue to work with government departments to ensure that smaller supported and sheltered housing providers are able to access the funding they need to keep these services running.”
The government press release on the fund cited victims charities, including domestic abuse services, as well as vulnerable children charities as examples of those “helping vulnerable people through the crisis”.
Catherine Ryder, director policy and research at the NHF, told Inside Housing: “Smaller, specialist supported housing providers are at the heart of local communities, providing support for vulnerable people in crisis.
“Some of these organisations are facing sudden, significant increases in their operating costs due to the coronavirus outbreak and urgently need short-term support.
“We are talking to the government to ensure these specialist providers, such as those running domestic abuse refuges, can access vital emergency funding through the charities rescue package.”
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