Over 700 tenants of Grampian Housing Association are set to receive grants from the Scottish Government’s Social Housing Fuel Support Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund as funding of over £186,000 has been secured. With soaring energy bills and the cost of living crisis severely affecting many of the association’s tenants, the funding will help households who are in, or at risk of, fuel poverty and financial hardship as a result of rising living costs.
Energy top-up payments of £250 will be issued from the £166,000 award from the Social Housing Fuel Support Fund, administered by the SFHA. The £20,000 grant from The National Lottery has enabled the association to establish new Heat and Eat Initiative. Slow cookers, air fryers, heated throws, duvets and warm clothing will be distributed to tenants experiencing hardship because of the cost of living crisis. Food packs will also be distributed in partnership with CFINE, a local organisation tackling poverty.
With the JRF (Joseph Rowntree Foundation) stating that nearly one in five households on low incomes went hungry and cold in 2022 the funding has come at a crucial time for many tenants.
Rachel Byiers, Support Services Lead, Grampian Housing Association said: “We recognise the financial stress many of our tenants are experiencing and the tough choices they sometimes have to make between ‘eating and heating’, so we are delighted to be able to offer practical support during these difficult times.
“We will continue to support our tenants in any way we can as we face soaring energy prices and the cost-of-living crisis.”
Commenting on the funding applications, Carol Reid, Housing Operations Lead at Grampian Housing Association said: “We are delighted to have secured such a large amount of funding as this will enable us to now help lighten the financial load for many of our tenants who have been struggling to cope with current cost of living crisis”.
Tenants already in receipt of the funding commented: "The energy grant was a godsend and couldn't of come at a better time for me, like most I was struggling with my energy bills and this grant has meant I can heat my home for a few months without the worry. So happy I got the grant".
“I received an email from Grampian Housing today with regards to an “Energy Fund” that has been set up. Within 15 minutes of completing the online form I received vouchers which entitles me to £245 worth of energy (gas or electric). All I need to do now is pop into a post office with my key and identification to top up.”
“This morning I had £6.25 in my bank account to last me until the end of the week, so to receive this, and for it to actually be processed so quickly. It has been a complete godsend! I can’t thank Grampian Housing enough for drawing this to my attention.”
"Receiving the card fund has really helped my situation as I have been really struggling topping up my energy meters".
According to the Scottish Government, the fuel poverty rate is expected to increase to 39% in April 2023 when the Energy Price Guarantee increases for a typical household from £2,500 to £3,000. This will result in an additional 120,000 fuel poor households compared to October 2022, bringing the total number of households in fuel poverty in Scotland to 980,000, of which 860,000 (34%) will be in extreme fuel poverty.
