Submit Applications for CIF Crisis Grant Program (Canada)

Deadline: 31-Dec-2026

The CIF Crisis Grant Program provides small emergency cash grants to adults in Vancouver with lived experience of mental health or substance use challenges who are facing unexpected financial hardship. Each grant is worth $85, with 12 grants available each month to help cover essential costs arising from sudden emergencies. Health care workers must apply on behalf of eligible clients, and recipients are selected through a random draw twice each month.

About the CIF Crisis Grant Program

The CIF Crisis Grant Program is designed to provide immediate financial assistance to adults experiencing mental health or substance use challenges when an unexpected situation creates a financial barrier. The grant is intended for emergencies such as: - Unexpected loss of income. - Sudden essential expenses. - Job loss. - Inability to work because of health reasons. - Death in the family. - Pest eradication costs. - Theft. - Urgent moving expenses. - Other unexpected financial emergencies. The program focuses on helping individuals meet essential costs during periods of unexpected financial hardship. Funding Available Each selected recipient receives an $85 cash grant.

Key funding details include:

- Grant amount: $85 per recipient.

- 12 grants are available each month. - Grants are provided in cash. - Recipients are selected through a random draw. - Draws take place twice per month. The grant is intended to help address essential costs caused by an unexpected circumstance. Who Can Apply? The program has specific eligibility requirements.

Applicants must:

- Be 19 years of age or older. - Have lived or living experience of mental health and/or substance use challenges. - Be a resident of the City of Vancouver. - Be unable to cover essential costs because of an unexpected circumstance. - Have not received a Crisis Grant during the previous two years. - Be referred by a health care worker. Applications must be submitted by a health care worker on behalf of their eligible client. What Emergencies Can the Grant Support? The program is intended for unexpected situations that create an immediate financial barrier. Examples of qualifying circumstances include: - Losing a job or another source of income. - Being unable to work because of health reasons. - Experiencing a death in the family. - Paying for urgent pest eradication. - Recovering from theft. - Covering urgent moving costs. - Meeting other essential expenses caused by an unexpected emergency. The circumstances should represent an unexpected financial hardship that prevents the applicant from covering an essential cost. How Are Recipients Selected? Eligible applications are entered into a random draw twice per month. There are 12 grants available each month. Selection is therefore based on the random draw rather than a competitive assessment of the applications. Applicants who are not selected can submit a new application for a future deadline, provided they continue to meet the eligibility requirements. How to Apply Applicants cannot apply directly for the grant themselves. A health care worker must apply on behalf of the client.

Applications must be:

- Completed by a health care worker. - Submitted by email. - Fully completed before the applicable deadline. Only fully completed applications received by the specified deadline will be included in the draw. Application Deadlines Applications are considered for the twice-monthly draws. To be included in a draw, a fully completed application must be received by 1 p.m. on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month. Applications received after the deadline may need to be submitted for a future draw. What Happens If an Applicant Is Not Selected? Not being selected in one draw does not prevent an eligible applicant from applying again. Applicants who are not selected may reapply for future deadlines, provided they continue to meet all eligibility requirements. Important Points for Applicants Before submitting an application, applicants and referring health care workers should ensure that: - The applicant is at least 19 years old. - The applicant lives in the City of Vancouver. - The applicant has lived or living experience of mental health and/or substance use challenges. - The financial hardship resulted from an unexpected circumstance. - The requested support is for an essential cost. - The applicant has not received a Crisis Grant within the past two years. - The application is submitted by a health care worker. - The application is fully completed. - The application reaches the program by 1 p.m. on the 1st or 3rd Tuesday of the month. Why the Crisis Grant Is Important Unexpected expenses can create significant financial pressure for people who are already experiencing mental health or substance use challenges. A small emergency grant can help remove an immediate financial barrier, allowing an individual to address an essential expense during a difficult period. The program provides targeted support for short-term emergencies rather than ongoing financial assistance. Frequently Asked Questions How much is the CIF Crisis Grant? Each grant is worth $85 and is provided in cash. How many grants are available each month? There are 12 Crisis Grants available each month. Who can receive the Crisis Grant? Adults aged 19 or older who live in the City of Vancouver, have lived or living experience of mental health and/or substance use challenges, and are facing unexpected financial hardship may be eligible. Can individuals apply directly? No. A health care worker must apply on behalf of the client. What types of emergencies can qualify? Examples include job loss, inability to work because of health reasons, death in the family, pest eradication, theft, urgent moving costs, and other unexpected essential expenses. Can the grant cover regular ongoing expenses? The grant is intended for essential costs resulting from an unexpected circumstance rather than routine ongoing expenses. How often are recipients s