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Financial Aid Resources

Bromwich & Smith: has a team of Licensed Insolvency Trustees and Debt Relief Specialists are committed to rebuilding your worth while helping you relieve the overwhelming financial burden you may be experiencing due to challenging financial times. Contact them at +1 855-884-9243 or here.

Prosper Canada: Prosper Canada is a national charity dedicated to expanding economic opportunity for Canadians living in poverty through program and policy innovation. Our aim is to ensure that all financially vulnerable Canadians have access to the financial policies, programs, products and advice they need to build their financial well-being. Prosper Canada offers referral services and financial literacy options. Contact them at Tel: 416-665-2828 or here.

Project Recover: CCFWE is partnering with Project Recover to support survivors of financial and economic abuse. Project Recover is a volunteer initiative of financial service industry executives, provides support to survivors and advocates on their behalf with creditors. Find out more.

Credit Counseling Canada is a national organization of certified not-for-profit credit counselors that offer free help for anyone over the age of 18 residing in Canada who is struggling with debt. Victim-survivors should take advantage of the free service and call the toll-free number 1-866-398-5999 or find a credit counselor in their area online.

YWCA’s NESS Fund (various regions): “YWCA’s NESS Fund provides one-time financial support of up to $2,000 to survivors of gender-based violence to help them leave abusive living conditions, emergency shelters or precarious living situations like staying temporarily with friends/family or living unhoused.The fund is open to women, trans, Two-Spirit or gender-diverse people who are 16 years of age or older. Applicants must be seeking support to leave abusive living conditions, leave emergency shelters or precarious housing conditions (staying with family/friends; couch-surfing or living unhoused) they were accessing as a result of experiencing violence.” [NESS Fund] The fund can be used for a broad range of necessities, intended to be used to leave abusive relationships and establish safe, stable housing. The NESS fund is available at certain YMCA locations across Canada. Further information

Financial Assistance, Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime (national) Canadian provinces/territories have crime victim compensation/financial assistance programs for victims of violent or interpersonal crimes (including domestic violence). The programs are administered by the provinces/territories, according to their own rules and standards. They were created to acknowledge the harm done to innocent victims and to help ease the financial burden that often accompanies victimisation. The compensation/financial assistance program is seen as a last resort, therefore all other coverage must be exhausted prior to claims for compensation.” Further information on eligibility and covered costs

Canadian Connecting Families initiative (national)

Connecting Families is a federal initiative aiming to assist low-income individuals and families in accessing affordable home internet. The program partners with various Internet Service Providers (ISP) offering the services to eligible beneficiaries. Find out more or check FAQs on the program

Bissell Centre

- A Centre which helps empower people to move from poverty to prosperity
- Programs for individuals: https://bissellcentre.org/programs/individual/
- These include:
  - Housing and homelessness
  - Employment services
  - Mental health services
  - Supportive housing for adults with FASD
  - FASD services
  - Financial empowerment services
  - Eviction support
  - Free tax filing

DUCA Credit Union’s Impact Innovation Lab

DUCA Credit Union’s Impact Innovation Lab provides a loan bundling program called an “Escalator Loan” which helps people stuck in predatory loans (payday loans, etc) reduce their debt burden and create a personalized repayment plan. The following are the Criteria to qualify for an Escalator Loan:

Regular income
Willingness to complete a phone assessment and the DUCA Impact Lab Cash Flow Tool
Have existing high interest debt (outside of the DUCA Credit Union)
Debt cannot exceed $18,000
Must be a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident
Not available in Quebec
Cannot have undischarged bankruptcy
Cannot have outstanding child support without a payment plan in place
Cannot owe money to the Canada Revenue Agency without an approved payment plan in place

Please contact Jenny Phan: phan@duca.com – mentioning CCFWE or the Stear App as your point of reference.

Alberta

Escaping Abuse Benefit The provincial government of Alberta offers an emergency fund to people escaping family or domestic violence. The fund is specifically available to victim-survivors residing in Alberta without the necessary financial means to leave or those that just left an abusive relationship and who don’t qualify for other ongoing Alberta benefits. Assistance is offered for various expenses such as emergency transportation, costs for accommodation if shelters are unavailable, allowance to cover basic needs, to set up a new home, damage deposit for a new home or expenses for phone calls, and transportation to access legal advice. Further information on eligibility and costs covered

British Columbia

(Hardship) Assistance for persons fleeing abuse If a victim-survivor discloses to BC Employment and Assistance that she is fleeing abuse, applicable policies and exemptions are in place to ensure that immediate safety needs are met. An initial interview to determine eligibility can be scheduled within 1 business day, and victim-survivors are not required to verify domestic abuse or violence. New applicants are exempt from the work search and employment obligation for up to 6 months. If not eligible for income or disability assistance, they will be evaluated for hardship assistance, a fund for applicants with an immediate need for food, shelter or medical attention. Further information

Quebec

Desjardins Mutual Assistance Fund The Desjardins Mutual Assistance Fund aims to help people with financial difficulties. Through a locally participating community organization, a victim-survivor can receive free budget counselling and, subject to certain conditions, loans “with payment terms adapted to their financial capacity” [Note: Shelters have mentioned specific incidents where Desjardins paid victim-survivors their outstanding bills such as Hydro-Québec utility bills.]