Toll of pandemic on hard-pressed families revealed

The District Councils’ Network has reported that nearly every district council in England has seen a spike in people using food banks during the pandemic.

A new survey from the organisation lays bare the challenges and financial hardship households have faced in the last year, and the support they have needed from their local authority. These range from intervening in family disputes, managing increased homeless and mediating with landlords despite the eviction ban.

The research found that, compared with the year before the pandemic, more than nine in 10 district councils have reported an increase in food bank usage and almost two-thirds have had to provide support and mediation in family disputes and crises during lockdown.

Additionally, 85 per cent of district councils have seen an increase in claims from homeless households for temporary accommodation, while nearly half of districts have had to intervene in more disputes with landlords and tenants than before the pandemic despite the ongoing eviction ban.

The DCN says that nearly three-quarters of councils anticipate a likely rise in rough sleeping and almost nine in 10 districts expect an increase in homelessness, leading to calls for a continuation of many supportive measures introduced by government during the pandemic.

This should see an increase in the Local Housing Allowance to reduce the risks of homelessness, and further funding and flexibilities in council tax support and discretionary housing payments. Councils are saying a further extension of the eviction ban will be essential and that in the meantime the government must work with councils to introduce the measures that prevents the likely wave in homelessness following it eventually being lifted.

Giles Archibald, DCN’s Better Lives spokesperson, said: “These hard-hitting findings reveal the devastating toll of coronavirus on households who have struggled to pay the bills, put food on the table, and keep a roof over their heads. The government has stepped in and provided much-needed additional support for families. But while these have been welcome, there are serious concerns that if many measures do not continue, many families will be unable to get by.

“District councils, who have been on the frontline fighting coronavirus, will continue to do everything they can to support households facing hardship. However, this needs to be backed up with the continuation of many welfare measures brought in during the pandemic, and support for councils to lead the local effort to create jobs and support families across our towns and cities. Without this many families could face disaster.”