Help with living costs

If you’re struggling to afford the every day costs of living, please speak to your Neighbourhood Manager about our cost of living support or email us enquiries@originhousing.org.uk.  The one-off  assistance payment is made in supermarket vouchers to help you with some of your living costs.

We are offering £40 for a single person, £70 a couple, and £15 for each child per application. You can apply up to five times in the year. There is an additional £15 per person for other permanent household members, for example adult children, parents/grandparents.

Friends of Origin grants
Grants are provided for essential items such as white goods, beds, sofas. Grants are also available for essential items needed for work or college e.g. interview clothes, books. The maximum amount awarded is £600 within a two-year period. 
 
With the cost of living crises this has been broadened to items to help keep people warm at a low cost such as electric blankets, sleeping bags, microwaveable wheat bags and electric footwarmers. 

Again please get in touch with us to find out more or speak to your Neighbourhood Manager.  
 
Grant-giving funds (also known as charitable funds) are a form of financial help given to people in need that don’t have to be paid back. Use Turn2us’s online tool to search for grants available in your area.

Government help for people

The Government has various support packages for people including:

• help with energy bills
• cost of living payments
• help with childcare costs
• offers with various retailers

More information is available here: Help for Households - Get government cost of living support

Warm Spaces:
You can also search on the Warm Spaces website to find other warm spaces locally: Warm Spaces and 
Local councils often have lists of warm spaces on their websites.

Help with energy bills
You can also find out about help from energy companies if you need help with energy bills. 

Mental health support
Samaritans
Samaritans can offer advice and support if you're stuggling to cope, or if you're worried about someone else. You can call them 24/7, 365 days a year.
www.samaritans.org/
116 123
jo@samaritans.org

Calm
Campaign Against Living Miserably Help and support for young men aged 15-35 on issues which include depression and suicide.
www.thecalmzone.net/
0800 585858

Supportline
Provides emotional support and details of support groups, helplines, agencies and counsellors throughout the UK
www.supportline.org.uk/problems/suicide/
01708 765200
info@supportline.org.uk

Shout

You can also text 'SHOUT' to 85258 to start a conversation with a trained Shout 85258 volunteer. Texts are free, anonymous and confidential from anywhere in the UK.