Middlesbrough Crisis and Community Support Emergency Scheme

Help is provided to individuals on a low income from the Middlesbrough Community Support Scheme. The council will provide assistance on a one-off basis to families with a financial hardship, and the funds can be used for food or to prevent homelessness by resettling into a more affordable property. There can also be assistance for white goods, furniture, clothing, and other household items.

The council will never provide cash but all help provided will be in the form of a voucher or what is called a pre-paid or grant. So funds from Community Support Scheme (CSS) will go directly to a landlord for a deposit payment, or maybe the individual will be able to use the pre-paid card at a local supermarket in Middlesbrough.

Types of awards from Community Support Scheme

The scheme will also provide either Crisis Awards, which address health issues or risk to safety, or a Community Support Award, which is more for maintaining a home or moving.

The crisis awards from CSS is a last resort, and an applicant needs to have no other access to charitable funds or support. The family needs to be in immediate need of help. Some of what is provided for in a crisis may be vouchers to use at a food bank, a taxi to work, or grants to pay for heating arrears to prevent homelessness. There may also be items for babies such as milk or nappies, as the aim to to address a crisis, and that prioritises food needs.

When applying for a crisis award, the person needs to call the council to submit an application. They need be age 18 or older and have a connection to Middlesbrough Local Authority. All of charities and organisations must have been applied to first as well, as the financial aid from the scheme is a last resort. There will also be an interview and assessment done by the specialist from the council.

The other option from the Middlesbrough scheme is Community Support Awards. They will help people move back to the area or that are leaving another accommodation. Applicants also need to have had a reduction in benefits, such as Income Related Employment Support Allowance, Pension Credit, or Income Support.

This will provide vouchers for housing needs, or there may be aid for the rent deposit to the landlord. The applicant may also receive vouchers for furniture or other household needs. When applying, the person needs to have a local connection, be moving from an accommodation, and also be on a low income. This award can also pay rent in advance that may be part of resettlement into their new Middlesbrough home, however this form of help is only on an exception basis. Propspective tenants can learn about other solutions though, and find more schemes for paying rent deposits.

Application process

To apply, the individual needs to call the Middlesbrough Community Support Officer. The phone number to ring is 08081 789 278. All applications are done over the phone, and the officer can provide more information too.

Each application will be reviewed. While the council will try to provide the decision as soon as they can, it may take five to ten days before the person is notified if they can get help from the Middlesbrough Community Support Scheme. The notification may also be done by text phone as well. If the application is unsuccessful, the council may provide referrals to foodbanks or other housing assistance.

All funds, and the amounts, are at the discretion of the council, and that is why any assistance is a last resort. So the appeal process will only address an application if there was an error on it.