COVID-19 YOUTH SUPPORT FUND
UPDATE: You can now access support through Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada’s Support Fund for Former Youth in Care partners.
Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada is no longer administering direct grants to youth under the COVID-19 Youth Support Fund. Instead, young people and families involved in the child welfare system can now access support through one of 52 partners across Canada as part of the Foundation’s updated COVID-19 Response Program.
To see if you are eligible for a COVID-19 Support Fund for Former Youth in Care program near you, please see the list below and connect directly with one of our participating partners.
Young people who have transitioned out of care, as well as children and families involved in the child welfare system, are especially on our minds and in our hearts during this very difficult time.
We launched the original COVID-19 Youth Support Fund April 1, 2020 to former youth in care across Canada ages 18-29 experiencing financial challenges due to COVID-19, at a time when the pandemic’s impact, longevity and financial strain was not yet well understood. We received an immediate and unprecedented (for us) volume of applications and queries about this support and, after just two days, had to temporarily close the fund to focus on applications received. Through this fund we were able to directly support over 1,900 young people with up to $1,000 grants to help cover short-term and emergency needs.
As the pandemic continued to intensify, the barriers and stress young people involved with the child welfare system faced and the demand for much-deserved financial and other support continued to grow. So, we have developed a new approach for Phase 2 of this fund, now called the COVID-19 Response Program, that will ensure young people and their families can be better supported, more quickly.
We have now partnered with 52 child, youth and family-serving organizations across Canada who will offer a variety of emergency funds, programs and/or services directly to those involved with the child welfare system through the COVID-19 Response Program, Child & Family Support Fund; OR Support Fund for Former Youth in Care. This includes 34 programs focused on supporting former youth in care.
To see if there is a partner organization providing an emergency fund, program and/or service in your community under the Support Fund for Former Youth in Care, please check out the list of our participating partners organized by province below. Please note that each partner provides different kinds of COVID-19 related supports and may have different eligibility requirements.
Adoptive Families Association of BC – AgedOut.com
Contact: Lucie Honey-Ray, Project Lead – AgedOut.com
crunch@agedout.com
(604) 320-7330 ext. 125
AgedOut.com
Catchment Area: Vancouver/Richmond, East Fraser, North Fraser, South Fraser, Coast/North Shore, Kootenays, Okanagan, Thompson Cariboo Shuswap, North Vancouver Island, South Vancouver Island, North Central, Northeast, and Northwest
Support(s) Offered: Emergency Fund, COVID-19 CRUNCH Fund
Connections Community Service Society
Contact: Celina Tse, Administrative Assistant
Celina.tse@ccssociety.ca
(604) 271-7600
www.connectionscommunityservices.com
Catchment Area: Province of British Columbia
Support(s) Offered: Program/Service + Emergency Fund for clients
Dan’s Legacy
Contact: Tom Littlewood, Program Director
tom@danslegacy.com
(604) 999-9136
https://danslegacy.com/help/
Catchment Area: Metro Vancouver
Support(s) Offered: Service (Mental Health) + Emergency Fund for clients
Lu’ma Native Housing Society – Aboriginal Youth Mentorship and Housing Program
Contact: Barbara Lawson, Program Manager, AYMP
info@lnhs.ca
(604) 876-0811 ext. 351
http://lnhs.ca/aboriginal-youth-mentorship/
Catchment Area: Greater Vancouver Regional District
Support(s) Offered: Program/Service (AMYP Team) + Emergency Fund for program participants
Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre
Contact: Joel Harry, Director of Program Development
jharry@nanaimoaboriginalcentre.ca
(250) 585-0947
https://www.nanaimoaboriginalcentre.ca/
Catchment Area: City of Nanaimo
Support(s) Offered: Program/Service (Mobile Cultural & Wellness, Youth Boxing Team, Youth-Led Service Audit) + Emergency Fund for program participants
Michif Child & Family Services
info@michifcfs.com
www.michifcfs.com
Catchment Area: Portage la Prairie, Brandon, Dauphin, Swan River, The Pas, and Thompson
Support(s) Offered: Emergency Fund for participants of the Michif Spirit Program
VOICES – Manitoba’s Youth in Care Network
Contact: Marie Christian, Director
covidsupport@voices.mb.ca
(204) 982-4956
www.voices.mb.ca
Catchment Area: Winnipeg-area
Support(s) Offered: Service (Tech Support for PSE students) + Emergency Fund
Partners for Youth Inc.
nbyicnpfy@gmail.com
(506) 462-0323
www.partnersforyouth.ca
Catchment Area: Province of New Brunswick
Support(s) Offered: Program (Resource development for youth entering care)
Foster Family Coalition of the NWT
youth@ffcnwt.com
(867) 766-3326
www.ffcnwt.com
Catchment Area: North West Territories
Support(s) Offered: Program (GLOW Program) + Emergency Fund
Children’s Aid Society of Algoma
Contact: Larissa Richmond, Supervisor of Children’s Services and Adoption
lrichmond@algomacas.org
(705) 949-0162 ext. 261
www.algomacas.org
Catchment Area: Algoma District
Support(s) Offered: Emergency Fund
Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton
Contact: Lisa Keleher, Youth Success Coordinator
LKeleher@hamiltoncas.com
(905) 522-1121 ext. 6237
www.hamiltoncas.com
Catchment Area: Hamilton-Area
Support(s) Offered: Emergency Fund
Covenant House Toronto
Contact: Karen McGavin, Manager, Community Support Services
mcgavin@covenanthouse.ca
(416) 204-7045
www.covenanthousetoronto.ca
Catchment Area: Toronto-Area
Support(s) Offered: Emergency Fund
Durham Children’s Aid Foundation
Contact: Dennis Ullman, Executive Director
Dennis.ullman@durhamcaf.ca
(905) 433-1551 ext. 2379
https://durhamcaf.ca/
Catchment Area: Durham Region
Support(s) Offered: Program (Housing Transition Support) + Emergency Fund
Family & Children’s Services of the Waterloo Region Foundation
Contact: Jill Stoddart, Director of Research, Development & Outcomes
foundation@facswaterloo.org
(519) 748-8733
https://www.facswaterloo.org/foundation
Catchment Area: Waterloo Region Municipality
Support(s) Offered: Program (Affordable Housing) + Emergency Fund
Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Foundation
Contact: Deb Aben, Executive Director
daben@k-hchildrensfoundation.com
(705) 743-9751 ext. 1317
https://www.khcas.on.ca/foundation/
Catchment Area: Peterborough County, the City of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton County.
*ONLY serves youth formerly involved with Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society.
Support(s) Offered: Program/Emergency Fund (Youth Gift Card Program)
Mnaasged Child & Family Services
Contact: Miranda Dockstater, Children’s Circle of Care Helper
miranda.dockstater@mnaasged.com
(519) 289-1117
Catchment Area: Munsee Delaware nation, Oneida Nation of the Thames, Chippewa of the Thames as well as London Middlesex and Elgin county
Support(s) Offered: Service (Mental Health) + Program/Emergency Fund (Housing & Tech Support)
Niagara Foundation for Family & Children Services
Contact: Dave Augustyn, Development Director
Dave.Augustyn@facsniagara.on.ca
(289) 696-0244
https://facsniagarafoundation.org/
Catchment Area: Niagara Region
Support(s) Offered: Emergency Fund (Post-Secondary Education Supports) for clients
PARC (Pape Adolescent Resource Centre)
contact@parcyouth.com
(416) 462-1010
www.parcyouth.com
Catchment Area: Toronto-Area
Support(s) Offered: Emergency Funds (COVID-19 Support Fund, One-Stop Housing, etc.) + Program (PARC Life skills and Support Virtual Programming)
R.E.S.T. Centres, Bridge of Hope Program
Contact: Jacqui Henry, Case Manager
jacquihenry@restcentres.org
(905) 863-1118 ext. 102
www.restcentres.org
Catchment Area: Brampton
Support(s) Offered: Program/Emergency Fund (Rental Stipend Program) for program participants
StepStones for Youth
referrals@stepstonesforyouth.com
(416) 893-5196
https://www.stepstonesforyouth.com/our-programs/youth-transition-workers/
Catchment Area: Toronto-Area
Support(s) Offered: Program/Emergency Fund (Safe at Home Project) for program participants
Women’s Multicultural Resource and Counselling Center of Durham
info@wmrccdurham.org
O: (905) 427-7849 or C: (416) 722-5283
https://.www.wmrcc.org
Catchment Area: Durham Region
Support(s) Offered: Emergency Fund (COVID-19 Financial Aid to Youth in Transition)
Youth Opportunities Unlimited
Contact: Lynne Whitelaw, Intake Coordinator
LynneW@you.ca
O: (519) 432-1112 ext. 103 or C: (519) 852-7719
www.you.ca
Catchment Area: London & Middlesex County
Support(s) Offered: Service (Housing Supports) + Emergency Fund for clients
Child & Family Services, Fork in the Road Program
Contact(s): Darlene Eldershaw, Child Protection Supervisor
dmeldershaw@ihis.org
(902) 838-0714
Delia Tassell, Family Service Worker
ddtassell@ihis.org
(902) 687-7058
www.princeedwardisland.ca/en
Catchment Area: Province of Prince Edward Island
Support(s) Offered: Program (Fork in the Road) + Emergency Fund
Fondation du Centre jeunesse de Montréal
Contact: Emmanuel Bulamatari, Housing Access/Maintenance
emmanuel.bulamatari@fondationcjm.ca
(514) 385-5018
https://fondationcjm.ca/
Catchment Area: Greater Montreal Area
Support(s) Offered: Emergency Fund
This fund is intended to support young people who have or will be aging out of the temporary or permanent care of a Canadian child welfare AND who are:
- Experiencing financial strain
- Aged 18 to 29 (inclusive) at the time of application
Please note that partners distributing an emergency fund, service or program through the Support Fund for Former Youth in Care may have additional eligibility requirements. To learn more please connect directly with a participating partner near you.
Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada has carefully selected partners from across Canada in order to ensure that a wide range of youth from care across the country can be reached through this fund. Unfortunately, we have not been able to secure partners in all provinces/territories at this point and are currently unable to accept applications directly to the Foundation. You’re welcome to explore the list of participating partners below to find an emergency fund, service or program that serves your catchment area.
If you do not see a partner that services your area please check back at a later date as the list may be updated over time.
The COVID-19 Support Fund for Former Youth in Care is meant to provide short-term support for youth with emergency expenses such as housing costs like rent, food, household supplies, mental health counselling, technology support for e-learning, and other emergency needs.* With the support of our partners, we are hoping to reach as many former youth in care in need as possible and encourage you to seek out other support options if you have already received the COVID-19 Youth Support Fund from Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada. If you have already received the fund but your situation continues to be impacted by the pandemic and you are unable to secure additional supports consider reaching out to a participating partner in your area directly to discuss your situation.
*Supports offered vary based on participating partners.
Yes. This is a fund for people who have been financially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, if you lost your job or could no longer work, or if you had additional expenses because of physical distancing recommendations.
Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada has provided grants to 34 youth-serving partner organizations under the Support Fund for Former Youth in Care. These partners are running a variety of COVID-related emergency funds, programs and services across Canada. To apply for supports please review the list of participating partners and connect directly with an organization servicing your area to learn more about what type of supports they are offering (i.e. emergency fund, program and/or service) and how to access services/apply.
No. Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada is unable to accept direct applications or connect with partners on behalf of youth. If you are looking for COVID-related supports please review our list of participating partners under the Support Fund for Former Youth in Care and connect directly with a partner servicing your area to learn more about the emergency fund, program and/or service that they are offering.