Crisis and Resilience Fund 2026 to 2027
The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) is funded by the UK Government. It 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 our Cost of living support page for information about local support available.
Accessibility and alternative formats
We are committed to making information about the Crisis and Resilience Fund accessible to all residents.
This web page includes accessibility tools that allow users to:
- have content read aloud
- translate content into other languages
- enlarge text
- simplify page content
- use screen masking and other accessibility features
Use the 'Accessibility tools' option at the top right of the page to access these features.
Information about the Crisis and Resilience Fund is also available in alternative formats on request, including:
- large print
- easy read (PDF, 1104.25 KB)
- braille
If you need information in an alternative format, or need help completing an application, email hardship.support@enfield.gov.uk and we will arrange this for you.
If you're unable to apply online, you can request a paper application form and get help with completing an application – email hardship.support@enfield.gov.uk.
Apply for support
The Crisis and Resilience Fund provides 2 main types of financial help – Crisis Payments and Housing Payments.
Crisis Payments
Crisis Payments provide short-term support to households experiencing financial hardship and needing help with essential living costs.
If your household is facing financial hardship, you can apply for a Crisis Payment.
Funding for this scheme is limited and applications will be assessed against the published eligibility criteria. Only one award can be made per eligible household.
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 calculating household income, the following are not included:
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer's Allowance
- Child Benefit
What help can I get?
Depending on your circumstances, support may be available for:
- food, including support through food banks and food pantries
- energy and water bills or top-ups
- housing costs (excluding mortgage payments)
- essential items such as broadband, telephone bills, clothing and transport
- white goods such as refrigerators, freezers, washing machines and cookers (provided directly rather than as cash payments)
- essential transport costs
- priority debts and essential household bills
Cash awards are limited to £250.
What information do I need to provide?
To be considered for support, you must explain:
- what hardship you are experiencing
- why you are unable to meet these costs yourself
Applications that do not provide enough information may be refused.
You must also provide:
- proof of income for everyone in the household
- a recent bank statement
- a utility bill if you are applying for help with energy or water costs
We will use this information to assess your situation and identify any more support that may help improve your financial circumstances.
Depending on your situation, we may offer or refer you to:
- benefit and income maximisation checks to ensure you are receiving all the financial support you are entitled to
- debt advice and budgeting support
- help with managing priority debts and household bills
- support to access discretionary welfare schemes, grants and charitable funding
- help with reducing household expenditure and improving financial resilience
- specialist support through the Welfare Advice and Debt Support (WADS) service and other partner organisations where appropriate
The aim of this support is not only to help with an immediate crisis but also to improve your longer-term financial stability and reduce the risk of future hardship.
Apply for a Crisis Payment (PDF, 438.97 KB)
Email your completed form and supporting evidence to hardship.support@enfield.gov.uk.
Housing Payments
Housing Payments provide financial help towards housing-related costs for residents who are struggling to meet these costs.
Housing Payments can help eligible households who need more support with housing expenses and form part of Enfield's wider Crisis and Resilience Fund offer.
To find information about eligibility and submit an application, see our Housing Payment page.
Other household support fund programmes
The Crisis and Resilience Fund 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 £1.5 million for 2026 to 2027
- Crisis Payments: 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 Funds (NRPF), 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 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 page or the government’s cost of living support hub.