Food vouchers and housing, HSF
Food vouchers
In July, we will issue a £25 Sainsbury voucher to households in receipt of Local Council Tax Support on 1 July 2024. Please be aware there has been a slight delay in these vouchers being issued and we now hope to send them in the first half of September.
The voucher can be used in any Sainsbury store for goods including food, household items such as washing powder, nappies, soaps and shampoo as well as clothing and bedding, if available in store but are not valid for use on alcohol, tobacco products, stamps or lottery.
How to apply for food vouchers
Households in financial crisis can apply to one of our partners for a £25 food voucher.
You can apply on the food voucher application form (MSWord, 95KB). We are aware this form is not digitally accessible. We aim to load an accessible version in due course. If you need this form in an alternative version, please email HSF@iow.gov.uk
The form explains who is eligible and what you need to do.
You can apply
- if you were in receipt of Local Council Tax Support on 1st July 2024 - you are able to apply for a further one-off voucher
- if you do not receive the benefit you can apply for up to 2 x £25 vouchers, one at a time, before the end of September 2024
You can visit one of our partners and apply for the voucher in person. They will give you a form to complete.
The partners are
- your child’s school or academy
- Newport Help Centre at County Hall
- Citizens Advice
- Living Well and Early Help team at Aspire Ryde
Alternatively, if you receive support from Isle of Wight Children's Services - send the food voucher application to Family.CommunityServices@iow.gov.uk
Contact us
If you have a question, or would like the food voucher application form in an alternative format, you can email hsf@iow.gov.uk
We are working hard to expand the list of partners. More details will be added when they are available.
Help with exceptional housing costs for vulnerable households
The IOW Council's Housing Department will support vulnerable households with exceptional housing costs, where existing housing support schemes do not meet need, or for cases of genuine emergency.
The fund cannot be used for support with ongoing rent or mortgage payments. Eligibility for Discretional Housing Payments (DHPs) must be considered first, and consideration given to whether there is a statutory risk of homelessness and therefore a duty of support is owed through the Homelessness Prevention Grant (HPG).
What is on offer?
Direct financial support exceptional housing costs, potentially including rent arrears but excluding any mortgage payments. The value of any individual funding award will be dependent upon individual circumstances.
Who is eligible?
The following households are eligible:
- Families on benefits or low incomes
- Single households on fixed incomes
- Care leavers with a tenancy
- Households where fuel bills account for a significant portion of income.
When this support is available
From 1 April 2024 to 30 September 2024
Where to get support
Visit our Housing Department webpages or call 01983 823 040