More government support is needed to help people deal with problems including domestic abuse, flooding and redundancy, according to a group of councils in London.
The cross-party group, London Councils, says this provision is needed more than ever because of severe cost-of-living pressures facing low-income residents.
It says local welfare services are often residents’ last hope and a ‘bulwark against homelessness and despair.’
Research for the group showed that council rent arrears dropped for people benefitting from ‘local welfare schemes’ compared to the average for low-income families.
Such schemes enable councils to respond to hardship flexibly, including by signposting recipients to other local services and helping them with budgeting and debt management.
London Councils says the Government should restore long-term funding for local welfare schemes which was abolished in 2015.
Claire Holland, London Councils executive member for communities, said: ‘As this research shows, councils’ local welfare services provide a vital safety net.
‘We’re often our residents’ last hope and a bulwark against homelessness and despair.
‘Boroughs believe the money invested in this support pays real dividends, not only by assisting those in crisis but also through avoiding additional costs to the wider public sector.’
