Millions of people still face poverty despite recent government support, council leaders have warned in response to a shocking new study that found nearly four million children lived in poor households.

The Local Government Association (LGA) said the Household Support Fund provided to councils should be made permanent and more flexible.

Chair of the LGA’s resources board Peter Marland was responding to a report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation saying 13.4 million people were in poverty during 2020/21, including 3.9 million children.

He said the welfare system should ensure that families have enough income to meet their essential living costs.

Cllr Marland said: ‘Protecting those in poverty is a critical priority for councils. As this report highlights, targeted government support does help, but millions of people still face uncertainty due to inflation and being unable to pay rising bills.

‘The Government should make the Household Support Fund it has provided to councils permanent, alongside greater flexibility to ensure this helps those in the greatest need and crucially shift focus from short-term crisis support to investing in prevention.

‘Councils should also have the resources and flexibilities to tackle inequalities in housing, employment, education and to improve access to services such as debt advice and welfare benefits, to improve our communities’ overall health.

‘Green, inclusive local economies and access to amenities which promote health and wellbeing also have a role, at a time of intense pressure on households and services.

‘Alongside this, we need a sufficient mainstream welfare system, which ensures families have enough income to meet their essential living costs including addressing the freeze in local housing allowance rates.’