Aleesha*, a teenager, was forced to move out of her home and had nowhere to live. Her high school principal found a rented room near the school where she could finish her studies, but she didn’t have the money to secure the place. Thanks to donors, she received emergency financial assistance to cover first and last month’s rent.
Since financial instability is an underlying issue in virtually every referral to the Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto (CCAS) the Emergency Grants Fund of the Children’s Aid Foundation (CCAF) supports children and youth when they or their families are facing adversity. Stay home to care for a gravely ill child or keep your job? Stay with an abusive partner or lose your home? Whether paying for unplanned repairs or taking courageous steps toward a better life, many need a hand to meet their own or their children’s needs.
How donors have helped children, youth and families through Emergency Grants
Stephanie*, a mother of two, escaped intimate partner violence. The young family was temporarily living in overcrowded, unsafe conditions until a grant meant she could pay for new accommodations while she got back on her feet.
The Lysenkos*, a recently arrived refugee family, received money to buy diapers for their new baby.
When Ruby*, a kinship caregiver took a young relative into her home, funding helped her pay for after-school child care.
Receiving $150 in gift cards meant that Maelyn* could replace her broken stroller so she could take her toddler to the park and grocery store.
After living in a tent, Matthew* moved into an apartment. An emergency grant purchased him a mattress so he didn’t have to sleep on the floor.
When a flood damaged much of the furniture in the Clarke* family’s apartment, a grant helped them replace basic items and begin to rebuild what was lost.
A helping hand makes all the difference when navigating challenging circumstances
Through the Emergency Grants program, CCAS workers apply for funding on behalf of their clients. The Foundation provides small and medium emergency grants to keep a struggling family from spiraling into a crisis. Emergency payments might cover groceries, housing, baby supplies, transportation costs, health care (like physiotherapy or eyeglasses), and more. When their urgent needs are met, families are better able to cope, solve problems and move forward.
*Name changed for privacy reasons.
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