Communities Department turns Council down for additional hardship funding

The Department for Communities (DfC) has contacted council’s across the North regarding a Hardship Fund it has made available to provide non-recurrent financial support to the most vulnerable.

Derry City and Strabane District Council received an allocation of £316,724 from the Fund, based on DfC’s population template.

Early last month, Council CEO John Kelpie wrote to Colum Boyle, permanent secretary at DfC about the allocation.

In his reply, Mr Boyle said: “The Department is not able to provide any additional hardship funding at this time. However, if additional budget become available in-year then the funding position may be reconsidered.”

Council officers have subsequently held meetings with local food banks, social supermarkets, advice service providers, charities and others to identify priorities for the hardship scheme.

Speaking to Derry News, Poeple Before Profit councillor Shaun Harkin  described the DfC Hardship Fund as a step forward.

“Given the scale of hardship across all communities in our district the level of funding isn't good enough,” he said. “Instead of patting DfC on the back, People Before Profit proposed Council call on the Department to double the amount of funding.

“This was supported by all parties at the July  full Council meeting.

“The amount presently being provided by the DfC is basically the same as the amount the Council put into a Hardship Fund last year. 

“The Council Hardship Fund helped those who received it but we know it was inadequate. 

“Stormont has much deeper pockets than Derry and Strabane Council and should be able to provide a lot more.”

Cllr Harkin continued: “Secondly, DfC allocated the funding based on population. They have given no consideration to levels of deprivation or regional inequality. And, this is the same department that has slashed funding for the Rates Support Grant. 

“This cut will pile pressure on the Council in the coming year.

“From the onset of the cost of living crisis, Government has been criminally slow to respond. While corporations racked up record profits, households struggled to pay bills, keep their homes warm and feed their children.

“With criminal inaction the only thing on offer from Westminster and Stormont, People Before Profit proposed our Council do something instead of nothing. 

“The proposal for a Council hardship fund succeeded but had to overcome the opposition of mainstream nationalist and unionist parties.”