Am I eligible for a CRF Housing Payment (previously known as Discretionary Housing Payment DHP)?

Public Announcement: Changes to Discretionary Housing Payment

The Government has launched the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF).

The CRF provides grant funding to councils in England to support residents facing financial crisis and to deliver preventative services that help strengthen financial resilience.

The Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) scheme has now ended. It has been replaced by the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) Housing Payment. It will still provide financial support to eligible residents who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs.

Am I eligible for a CRF Housing Payment?

In certain circumstances CRF Housing Payment can be provided to help pay rent and some associated costs such as shortfalls in rent, rent arrears, rent deposits, rent in advance, moving and storage costs.

To apply you will need to fill out the following form:

• CRF Housing Payment Form 

The CRF Housing Payment is just one part of a new Government programme designed to:

• Provide support for people facing a financial crisis, including cash‑first crisis payments.
• Offer housing‑related financial support for eligible residents who face a shortfall in their housing costs.
• Fund a range of resilience services, such as help with budgeting, income maximisation, community coordination, and other preventative support.

The funding replaces both the Household Support Fund and Discretionary Housing Payment fund schemes and gives councils a broader remit to design local schemes that combine crisis assistance with longer‑term support for residents.

What this means for residents:

• Any support previously delivered under the Discretionary Housing Fund (DHP) and Household Support Fund (HSF) schemes will now be administered through the Crisis and Resilience Fund.
• The new fund allows for wider types of support, including cash‑first crisis payments, housing payments, essential household items, food support, and community‑based help.
• Support will continue to be needs‑based, with a focus on helping residents through immediate hardship while also improving financial resilience.

When does this change happen?

The Crisis and Resilience Fund officially began on 1 April 2026

Residents will soon start to see updated information, application routes, and local guidance from this date.

Further information

Hastings Borough Council will administer the Housing Payment element of the CRF while East Sussex County Council will administer the other elements, including:

• Crisis Payments, and
• Resilience Services

For more information on the other support available through the new Crisis and Resilience Fund, please visit the East Sussex County Council Crisis and Resilience Fund information page where further updates are expected to be shared in due course.