The Crisis Grant is intended to assist consumers of mental health and substance use services who are experiencing significant financial strain due to unexpected circumstances. Each grant is in the amount of $85 and the funds are provided in the form of cash.
The Consumer Initiative Fund (CIF) provides funding to support individuals who are unable to cover essential costs due to an unexpected circumstance.
The Crisis Grant is reserved to provide financial assistance when no other funding sources are available.
12 grants of $85 are available each month. Health care workers must apply on behalf of their clients. Applications are selected by random draw twice per month.
A situation that is:
And results in:
The following 5 criteria must be met:
1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at 1pm
*Only eligible applications that are fully completed and received by deadline will be included in the draw*
Referral is required by a current health care worker who must:
By email to Megan.Thomas@vch.ca
Please password protect the application before submitting to secure your client’s personal information
Draws are held every 2nd and 4th Tuesday
Eligible applications are drawn randomly
6 grants are awarded every 2 weeks (12 per month)
If a grant is not awarded and the referrer would like to reapply, a new application form must be completed and submitted for a future grant deadline
All referring health care workers will be notified of the draw result by 5pm on the Tuesday following each deadline
The referring health care worker is responsible for picking up the funds and must be able to follow up with their client to ensure the funds are received
Grants are available for pick up starting at 9am on Wednesday, one week following the application deadline.
The person specified to pick up the grant should give reception staff their name and tell them they are picking up a Crisis Grant (staff will ask to see ID)
Vancouver Coastal Health
200-520 W 6th Ave, 2nd floor reception
Office Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30am – 4:30pm (excluding holidays)
Please contact:
Megan Thomas (works Tuesday-Thursday)
604-714-3771 ext 2239 (voicemail only)
The CIF Art Grant provides an opportunity for artists to purchase art supplies. Vancouver residents who are consumers of mental health and/or substance use services are encouraged to apply.
Each Art Grant is in the amount of $85. Recipients are selected by random draw. It is offered 4 times per year (Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall).
The goal of this fund is to provide opportunities for individuals to take courses they would not otherwise be able to access and to build capacity. Examples of courses we have funded include: yoga classes, music lessons, art classes, college courses, and acting classes.
The Crisis Grant is intended to assist mental health and substance use consumers who are experiencing significant financial strain due to unexpected circumstances.