Igors’ story: getting crisis support after a house fire

Igors, a Lambeth Council resident, was referred to the Lightning Reach portal and received:

• £1,000 in vouchers from the Rowland Hill Fund to help replace essential household furniture after a fire damaged his home

“We are trying to save money, but it's very hard because of the bills and our extra costs after the fire”

Igors and his family experienced a devastating house fire that left much of their home and belongings damaged or destroyed. After several weeks in a hotel room, the family moved into new accommodation. However, many of their belongings had already been damaged in the fire, and the new accommodation also has damp and mould issues, which have already begun affecting some of their remaining furniture.

To reduce the moisture in the property, Igors often has to keep the windows open to ventilate the space. However, this also makes the home colder, meaning the family needs to use more heating.

“The energy bills are very high… it’s quite a lot higher than I used to have.”

The increased energy costs have added extra pressure while the family tries to rebuild their lives after the fire.

Finding support through Lightning Reach

While trying to find help during this difficult time, Igors contacted several organisations including Lambeth Council and Citizens Advice. It was through these conversations that he learned about Lightning Reach and the support that might be available in emergency situations.

Through the platform, Igors applied for support from the Rowland Hill Fund, which provided £1,000 in vouchers to help his family replace essential items lost in the fire.

“The first thing that we will buy with the vouchers is proper beds. At the moment we've got very old ones which are in very bad condition and mouldy.”

With damp and mould in the temporary accommodation affecting their current furniture, having the ability to replace essential items will make a real difference.

Rebuilding through crisis support after a house fire

Igors and his family still have a long way to go to get back to stability, facing additional costs and the challenges of settling into a new area. However, this crisis support has been an important step in helping them make their temporary home more comfortable, giving them a place where they can rest and begin recovering after an extremely difficult period following the fire.

Get help today

Could you or someone you know use a helping hand building up your financial resilience? Create your account today at www.lightningreach.org/application-portal to see what you're eligible for.