The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) Housing Payment is money from the UK government to help people who are struggling to pay their housing costs. The fund runs from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029.
What is a CRF Housing Payment?
To get a CRF Housing Payment you must:
- Live in Gravesham
- Be entitled to Housing Benefit or the housing cost element of Universal Credit
- There is a shortfall between your rent and entitlement, and
- Be able to prove financial need
In some circumstances, for example if you need to move home, we may be able to pay a CRF Housing Payment to cover a rent deposit, rent in advance or help with moving costs.
If you are receiving or are eligible to receive Universal Credit but do not get the housing costs element, you will not be able to get a CRF Housing Payment to help with rent in advance or deposit.
There are restrictions on how much money you can get in a financial year and payments are a short-term measure for people experiencing difficult circumstances.
What CRF Housing Payment cannot be paid for?
- Fuel, water or sewerage charges if these are included in your rent
- Food charges for breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Help with council tax
- Rent increases due to outstanding arrears
- Sanctions or benefit reductions
- Shortfalls caused by recovering Housing Benefit or Universal Credit overpayments
- Times when your benefits are suspended
How to apply
You can apply for a CRF Housing Payment using our online form.
Please give as much detail as possible in your answers.
What we will need to know
Before we can give you a payment, we need to know what you have already done to improve your situation. For example, whether you:
- Have spoken to your landlord to try to agree a change
- Have registered with Kent Homechoice for other housing
- Have checked that you get all the benefits you are entitled to
- Are looking for work or trying to increase your hours
What happens next
Each case is considered individually based on your circumstances. We will ask you for a lot of information and we may also ask you to come in to discuss your claim in more detail. We will check your income and spending, and the reasons you need extra support.
We will send you a letter telling you our decision and our reasons for that decision.
As payments are discretionary, there is no formal appeal process, but if you disagree with our decision, you can ask us to look at your application again. Read the CRF Housing Payment policy to find out how we award payments.
If we decide we cannot make the award
We will write to you and explain our decision.
How will we pay the CRF Housing Payment?
We will write and tell you how much you will be paid and how long you will receive it. The payment will be for a set time depending on the reason for the award.