Crisis and Resilience Fund 2026 to 2027
The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) gives money to local councils in England to help low‑income households facing sudden financial problems. It also supports projects that help people and communities become more financially stable. This includes funding for housing support.
Enfield Council has received £7.4 million to support vulnerable households between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027.
£1.7 million has been set aside for Housing Payments. These provide financial support towards housing costs for people who cannot afford to meet them.
The main aim of the CRF is to provide a safety net for people on low incomes who experience a sudden financial shock, and to invest in helping individuals and communities deal with crises in the long term.
See Enfield’s cost of living support information, which includes local support available.
Local welfare assistance – application based support
If your household is facing financial hardship, you can apply for a Crisis Payment.
Funding for this scheme is limited, so only 1 award will be given per eligible household. Awards will go to those who meet the eligibility criteria on a first come, first served basis.
Please make sure you use the latest version of the application form (previous versions will not be accepted).
Apply for a Crisis Payment (PDF, 438.97 KB)
Please email your completed form and supporting evidence to hardship.support@enfield.gov.uk.
The application-window may open and close depending on how many people apply. Check this page for updates.
Who can apply
You must:
- live in the London Borough of Enfield
- have an annual household net income of less than £30,000
- have less than £1,000 in savings
When we calculate your annual household net income, we do not include:
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer's Allowance
- Child Benefit
What help you might get
You could receive support with:
- food (this may be through food banks or pantries)
- energy and water bills or top-ups
- housing costs (not including mortgage payments)
- other essentials, such as broadband, phone bills, clothing or transport
- white goods, for example a fridge, freezer, washing machine or cooker – these will be provided directly, not as a cash payment
- essential transport
- priority debts and bills
Cash awards are limited to £250.
What you need to include
To be considered, you must tell us in detail:
- what hardship you are experiencing
- why you cannot cover your expenses
If you do not provide this information, your application will be rejected.
You must also send:
- proof of income for everyone in your household
- a copy of your recent bank statement
- a utility bill (if you’re asking for help with energy or water bills)
We will use this information to assess your situation. We may also offer advice to help you maximise your income and reduce your outgoings.
Other household support fund programmes
The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) supports a range of targeted programmes to make sure funding reaches residents facing the greatest financial hardship. Enfield’s approach strengthens both immediate crisis help and longer-term financial support.
These programmes include:
- Council Tax Support Hardship Fund: Supporting around 4,700 low-income households by increasing the hardship fund to £1.6 million for 2026 to 2027
- Application-based support: Around 1,600 households receive up to £250 each for food, utilities, white goods and other essentials. This includes income maximisation checks to ensure benefits uptake and longer-term financial stability.
- Care leavers support: Over 300 care leavers receive setting-up-home allowances, clothing, white goods, food support and mediation services
- Rent deposits and removal costs: £900,000 to support families at risk of homelessness with rent deposits, rent in advance and essential removal costs, helping them secure stable long-term accommodation
- NRPF housing and utilities support: Support for families with children who have No Recourse to Public Fund, including help with energy, water and housing costs
- Adult Social Care (ASC) support: Including Flexi Flat rent, essential furniture and white goods, crisis payments for ASC debts, mental health transport support and income maximisation
- Resilience services: The Welfare Advice and Debt Support (WADS) team provides income maximisation, debt advice, benefit take-up and safeguarding support. DANE supports digital inclusion and assistive technology. LEAP provides independent advocacy to help residents understand their rights and navigate complex systems.
- Primary school funding: An average of £1,000 per primary school to provide emergency essentials such as uniforms, warm clothing and food support for vulnerable pupils
Enfield Council’s approach combines financial help with long-term support, including debt advice, employment support for people with learning disabilities, and improving access to vital community services.
Frequently asked questions
When and how will I get my payment?
If approved, payments for energy, water and other essentials will go into your bank account within 10 days.
If you're eligible for help with white goods, we will source these from a suitable provider who will contact you and arrange for the goods to be installed.
Can I get supermarket vouchers?
No, we are unable to offer supermarket vouchers.
My friend got help, will I?
We want to make sure that households who need support can easily qualify for it, but you must meet certain criteria and provide the requested evidence. Even if some households seem similar, things like income, how many people live there, rent, and Council Tax can all affect whether you’re eligible.
Other support available
Many voluntary and community organisations are offering help with food for Enfield’s diverse community. If you need urgent food supplies and cannot afford them, you can ask your local food bank for emergency food or support.
You can also visit Enfield Food Alliance for information about local organisations providing food support to residents. You can also try the OLIO food sharing app, to share or receive free food from neighbours.
If you need further support, see our cost of living support pages or the government’s cost of living support hub.