Federal and Provincial Financial Aid

Find Financial Help During COVID-19

Use this new Government of Canada tool to identify federal and provincial programs and benefits you may be eligible for. It is recommended that you check back regularly as new benefits are added or if your situation changes.

Employment Insurance (EI)

Temporary changes have been made to EI for those applying after September 27, 2020. Students who have lost their job or are unable to work due to COVID-19 due to illness, injury or quarantine may be eligible for Employment Insurance benefits (EI) or one of the new Canada Recovery Benefits. 

If you previously received the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), click here for more information on how to transition to another benefits program.

Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)

The Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) gives income support to employed individuals who are directly affected by COVID-19 and are not entitled to Employment Insurance (EI) benefits. Those eligible for the CRB can receive $1,000 for each 2-week period, for up to 26 weeks. Click here for more information and to apply.

Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)

The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) gives income support for up to two weeks to employed  individuals who are unable to work because they're sick or need to self-isolate due to COVID-19, or have an underlying health condition that puts them at greater risk of getting COVID-19. Those who are eligible for the CRSB can receive $500 for a 1-week period. Click here for more information and to apply.

Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB)

The Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) gives income support to employed individuals who are unable to work because they must care for their child under 12 years old or a family member who needs supervised care. This applies if the school, regular program or facility of the person you are caring for is closed or unavailable to them due to COVID-19, or because they're sick, self-isolating, or at risk of serious health complications due to COVID-19. If you're eligible for the CRCB, your household can receive $500 for each 1-week period, for up to a total of 26 weeks. For more information and to apply, click here.

Government of Ontario Emergency Assistance

Government of Ontario Emergency Assistance provides short term financial support for Ontario residents facing an emergency or crisis situation (job loss, childcare issues, facing eviction, experiencing domestic violence) who don’t have enough money to cover expenses such as food or housing. Students on a visitor or tourist visa are not eligible for this benefit. Click here for full eligibility criteria and to apply.

Information for International Students

Applying for EI or Canada Recovery Benefits

Those who have lost their job due to COVID-19 or are unable to work due to illness or caregiver duties may qualify for Employment Insurance (EI), the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB), the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit, or the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB). For more information on the Canada Recovery Benefits, please click here.

Information for Indigenous Students

Government of Ontario Emergency Assistance

Government of Ontario Emergency Assistance provides short term financial support for Ontario residents facing an emergency or crisis situation (job loss, childcare issues, facing eviction, experiencing domestic violence) who don’t have enough money to cover expenses such as food or housing. If you live in a First Nations community, contact your local Ontario Works office to apply. Click here for full eligibility criteria.

Additional Support for Indigenous Students

The Government of Canada has announced an additional $75.2 million to support First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation post-secondary students impacted by COVID-19. Check the Indigenous Services Canada page for who to contact for support.

Work and Volunteer Opportunities

Distress Centres of Greater Toronto

The Distress Centres of Greater Toronto is currently seeking volunteers for their English and multilingual helplines, as well as their Outbound Telecheck and Touching Base programs. Click here to learn more.

Government of Canada Job Bank

Listings for jobs in essential services, remote work opportunities and direct links to employers that are currently hiring. View the listings here.

Spark Ontario

SPARK lists volunteer opportunities that support the Government of Ontario COVID-19 response efforts, as well as general volunteer opportunities.

Volunteer Canada

Volunteer Canada posts COVID-19 response volunteer opportunities that are vetted for safety and quality. View volunteer listings here.

Volunteer Canada also lists a number of virtual volunteer opportunities for those interested in helping remotely. View virtual opportunities here.

Featured Opportunities

Scarborough Food Security Initiative

The Scarborough Food Security Initiative offers emergency food assistance during COVID-19 closures. Sign up here to volunteer with this emergency foodbank delivery service serving Scarborough Southwest.

TechServeTO

TechServeTO is currently recruiting volunteers for positions in marketing and promotion, and teaching older adults to use technology. Click here to sign up as a volunteer.

Together Project

In response to COVID-19, Together Project is training volunteers to provide remote social support to newcomers in Toronto and Mississauga. To learn more about group and individual opportunities and to sign up as a volunteer, click here.

Helpful Links

Community and Government Services

211 Ontario

Use the 211 search tool to find programs and services in your local community.

City of Toronto (311)

Information on financial and social supports available to Toronto residents. Use the Service and Benefit Finder Tool to get a personalized list of Toronto services that may be available to you, such as childcare, employment and housing support, and money to help cover daily living costs.

Service Ontario

Driver’s licences, plate stickers, health cards, and other services provided by the Ontario government. Find out which services are available online and which products do not require renewal at this time.

E-ServiceCanada

Continue to access critical services for Employment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security and Urgent Travel Needs Passport applications online while Service Canada Centres are closed by completing an E-ServiceCanada request form.

You can now apply for your Social Insurance Number (SIN) online. Click here for more information and for the online application form.

Food, Housing and Legal Aid

211 Central

Use the 211 Central COVID-19 priority service tool to find programs and services in Toronto and Durham, Peel and York Regions, including:

• Food Banks and Food Delivery Services
• Helplines
• Housing Support
• Indigenous Services
• Mental Health Supports

Feed Ontario

Use the Find a Foodbank tool to locate a food bank in your area.

Canadian Red Cross Emergency Food Assistance

City of Toronto residents who can't access grocery stores or community food programs due to COVID-19-required or recommended isolation and don't have other options to secure food delivery can call 1-833-204-9952 Monday to Friday, 8:30 am-4:30 pm. For more information, click here.

Landlord and Tenant Board

Check out the Landlord and Tenant Board FAQs to learn about your rights as a tenant, temporary changes to the eviction process and help available for tenants during COVID-19.

Legal Aid Ontario

Legal Aid Ontario is continuing to provide legal aid services via telephone and financial eligibility requirements for some of their services are waived temporarily during COVID-19 office and courthouse closures. For more information click here.

Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC)

The Black Legal Action Centre provides free legal aid services to low and no income Black Ontarians. BLAC works to combat individual and systemic anti-Black racism by providing legal representation, summary legal advice and brief services to individual clients.

Steps to Justice

Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO) has created a website that provides step-by-step, practical information to help people work through their legal problems. Check out the COVID-19 FAQs for updates about changes to government programs and court services.

Human Rights Legal Support Centre (HRLSC)

The Human Rights Legal Support Centre (HRLSC) offers human rights legal services to individuals in Ontario who have experienced discrimination contrary to Ontario's Human Rights Code. Contact the HRLSC if you have questions about your human rights and the COVID-19 pandemic for free legal advice about your situation.

Sexual Harassment and Assault Resource Exchange (SHARE)

The Sexual Harassment and Assault Resource Exchange (SHARE) provides free, confidential legal information to individuals who have experienced workplace sexual harassment or assault. SHARE offers culturally safe and accessible support to all, including Indigenous services and language services.

Toronto Animal Services COVID-19 Aid Program

Toronto Animal Services is providing PetSmart gift cards for a 6-week supply of food and supplies to pet owners from low-income households. For more information and to apply, click here.

Mental Health

eMentalHealth

Find mental health help in your area and check out the online screening tools and info sheets on a variety of mental health conditions and topics on eMentalHealth.ca.

ConnexOntario

ConnexOntario provides free and confidential health services information to people experiencing problems with alcohol and drugs, mental illness or gambling.

Good2Talk

Good2Talk provides free professional counselling, information and referrals for mental health, addictions and well-being to post-secondary students.

Distress Centres of Greater Toronto

Distress Centres provides crisis and emotional distress services via phone, online chat and text. A multilingual helpline is also available for residents of Peel Region.

Healing in Colour

Use the directory to find a BIPOC therapist or other allied health and wellness professional in your area.

Hope for Wellness

The Hope for Wellness Helpline offers phone and online mental health counselling and crisis  intervention services to all Indigenous peoples across Canada. Services are available in English and French as well as Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut, on request.  

Talk4Healing

Talk4Healing is a culturally grounded, confidential toll-free helpline for Indigenous women available in 14 languages across Ontario via online chat and phone.  

Tips, Tools and Other Useful Information

Budgeting in Times of Uncertainty

Create a customized budget in three simple steps using this Financial Consumer Agency of Canada tool.

Health and Safety Considerations for Volunteering During a Pandemic

This Volunteer Canada resource provides a checklist of personal safety measures to take while volunteering. Click here to download the tip sheet.

Protect Yourself from Fraud and Scams

Check the Service Canada website regularly for updates on federal assistance programs and to learn how to protect yourself and your personal information.

Find Financial Help During COVID-19

Use this new Government of Canada tool to identify federal and provincial programs and benefits you may be eligible for. It is recommended that you check back regularly as new benefits are added or if your situation changes.

Financial Relief Navigator

In partnership with the United Way, Prosper Canada has launched a financial relief navigator to learn about emergency relief provided by banks, utility, telecom and internet providers. Click here to access the tool and for more information.

Survey on the Impact of COVID-19 on Black Ontarians

The Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC) has developed a survey to better understand the impact of COVID-19-related emergency measures on Black communities in Ontario. Click here to complete the survey.

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