Emergency help from Hertfordshire Welfare Assistance Scheme

Emergency assistance for housing and food needs is for Hertfordshire families on a low income facing a financial crisis. The Welfare Assistance Scheme (HWAS) will provide the client with either a grant, pre-paid card, or a low interest loan in partnership with one of the local Credit Unions. The aim of this Hertfordshire County Council scheme, which is run by HertsHelp, is to help individuals that have had a reduction in their benefits or income, and are faced with a one time crisis.

The welfare scheme can be used to pay different bills that a family may have, but the priority is on preventing homelessness and ensuring individuals have food to feed their families. All council support is limited and come with restrictions. So those seeking emergency rent or deposit help will take priority to any council funds, and then people that need food will also be assisted.

Type of help provided by HWAS scheme

Any individuals that gets aid from HWAS will not be provided cash, but instead it will be a voucher/grant provided to a landlord or the person will partner with the credit union on the loan. Any funds paid out from the council go to the company or landlord owed money. It is also one-off assistance that is available once every twelve months, and the welfare scheme will not continue to pay out funds to families.

The Hertfordshire County Council also partners with other agencies and organisations on the Welfare Assistance Scheme, including not-for profits such as HertsHelp, Credit Unions, the Citizens Advice Bureau and also local foodbanks. This is done as the agencies provide people a number of other services, ranging from rent deposit bond guarantees to homeless prevention and free, hot meals. Clients can also get advice on budgeting and addressing any debt arrears that may be due to creditors.

People will also be signposted to any other help they need as well. This will include clothing banks, vouchers for furniture, or started packs for a new home. So when this support is combined with assistance on the rent deposit, it can help a homeless or housing vulnerable family gain stability.

Financial aid from Hertfordshire Welfare Assistance Scheme is limited as it depends on council and government funding. It is as a last resort too, and applicants need to have applied for help from other local charities or organisations first. They also need to have tried the food bank for items they need, or requested assistance for their deposit on a new property from their district council. Staff from HertsHelp will provide referrals to many of these other solutions.

If applying, and found to be eligible, some families will be issued a pre-paid card, which is also called a grant. Most people though will be provided a loan from the local Credit Union, as the funding runs out and this will also help ensure the participant budgets and plans better, as they will need to repay the loan over time.

Applications to the Welfare Assistance Scheme are accepted and reviewed by HertsHelp. The staff from the organization will review each request based on its merits and the individual need. They will also partner with the council on this if needed. Any assistance provided by HWAS is discretionary, and if declined, they will offer other referrals to shelters, soup kitchens, or even churches that can assist.

The telephone number is 0300 123 4044 and the hours are from Monday to Friday. People can also stop by the main office, which is at Hertlands House, Primett Road, Stevenage, Herts. Specialists are on site and can answer questions or provide more information.