After a bid for funds was successful, up to 1,000 households in Staffordshire could be helped out of fuel poverty.
The Warm Homes Fund has awarded Staffordshire County Council £3.7million. The money will come from a combination of £1.9million from Affordable Warmth Solutions on behalf of Cadent (National Grid) and an further £1.8million Energy Carbon Obligations funds from E.ON.
The programme will begin in March and will see up to 1,000 fuel poor households connected to mains gas for the first time. Added to this, wider support around making homes easier to keep warm and appropriate access to benefits will be given to around 12,000 people.
In Staffordshire, nearly 44,500 households are living in fuel poverty, meaning they either have no access to gas central heating, or need vital improvements to improve their heating efficiency and prevent the ill-health associated with the cold.
The bid was on behalf of all district and borough councils, as well as four local housing associations. The county council will work with district and boroughs, the NHS, Beat the Cold, E.ON and wider partners in the voluntary, social care and community safety sectors to identify those who may benefit from this programme and develop a network of support.
Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Wellbeing Alan White said: “Fuel poverty affects thousands of people across the country. This contributes to a number of health problems, as respiratory, cardiovascular and mobility conditions can be made worse if an individual is living in a cold home”.
“By working together with many different organisations on a Staffordshire-wide scale, we can identify as many people as possible who are at risk of fuel poverty and related health risks, provide support and advice, and get them the help they need.”
Further information will follow soon about the scheme and how to find out about eligibility.
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