Crisis and Resilience Fund

If you are struggling to afford everyday essentials, you may be able to get help from the Crisis and Resilience Fund. It is for Islington residents who are facing a financial emergency. 

About the Crisis and Resilience Fund 

The Crisis and Resilience Fund is funded by the UK Government, the council and partners. It brings together different support and funding schemes, including the Resident Support Scheme, into one fund, with one application form, so it is easier to apply for help.  

What the fund is for 

The fund helps Islington residents who are in serious financial difficulty and cannot afford basic living costs. 

It can: 

• help you in an emergency 
• give short-term support  
• put you in touch with other services that can help you longer-term 

Who this fund is for 

You can apply if: 

• you live in Islington, and 
• you are in financial crisis  

Council services and voluntary or community sector organisations can refer you to this scheme if they are supporting you. 

What help you can get  

Crisis Payments 

One-off payment if you need urgent help to pay for essentials, such as food, electricity or clothing. 

Housing Payments 

Help with housing costs, such as: 

• rent, if your benefits don’t cover your rent because of Bedroom Tax, Benefit Cap or Local Housing Allowance
• rent deposits 
• removal or moving costs  

Help for the future

You may also be offered support to help improve your finances, such as: 

• debt advice 
• help to claim benefits 
• help to improve your skills and find work  
• energy advice 

Who can apply for a Crisis Payment 

You can apply for a Crisis Payment if you: 

• live in Islington 
• are on a low income (this usually means you receive or are eligible for benefits based on your income) and do not have enough savings or other money to meet your needs 
• have experienced a financial shock in the last 8 weeks 

A financial shock could include: 

• a flood, fire or other emergency, that has caused significant damage to or loss of possessions and property 
• a bereavement or accident  
• a health emergency or mental health crisis that has led to more costs  
• leaving your home because of domestic abuse and needing immediate help e.g. with the costs of moving into a new property 
• a loss in income, such as losing your job, or getting less benefits 
• needing to repair or replace an essential item, like a bed or a cooker 
• moving into in a new property or temporary accommodation and needing help with the costs of moving e.g. removals, or deposit or rent that needs to be paid in advance 

Who can apply for a Housing Payment 

You can apply for a Housing Payment if you: 

• live in Islington  
• get Housing Benefit or the housing part of Universal Credit 
• are struggling to pay your rent due to Bedroom Tax, Benefit Cap or Local Housing Allowance   
• need help with a rent deposit or removal costs 

Not everyone will be eligible for a Crisis Payment or Housing Payment. We will ask you some questions to see if you qualify. The council decides who receives a payment. There is no automatic right to a payment. 

How to apply 

You can apply for a Crisis Payment or a Housing Payment by: 

• Phone: 020 7527 8222 
• Email: heretohelp@islington.gov.uk 
• In person: at an Access Islington Hub 

Get help to apply 

There is help available to apply: 

• if you rent from the council, contact your income officer 
• if you rent from a housing association, contact them directly if you rent privately, call Housing Solutions on 0207 527 6371  
• some partner organisations can also help, check the dropdown list at the bottom of this page and contact them for help 

How payments are made 

If your application is approved, we will try to pay you as quickly as possible. 

When you apply, we will ask you how you would like to get paid. You can choose to get paid: 

• into your bank account 
• by a payment letter that you can cash at the Post Office 

If you are applying for household items or removals, we can arrange this for you instead of giving you money if you would prefer.  

Other support 

The fund is to not just to help you in an emergency, but to support you in the future. In the application form we ask whether there is any other support you would like. 

We may contact you to see if there is any other support you need. This could include a Benefits Check to make sure you are claiming all the support you can get. 

Even if you do not get a payment, you can still get help with debt, benefits and employment. Either the council or partner will contact you. Or you can contact us by phone, email or in person. 

Applying more than once

In most cases, you will only get one payment in 12 months. 

In rare cases, you may get a second payment.  

If this happens, you will be expected to get other support to improve your finances in future and avoid future crises.