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COVID-19 Social and Community Supports

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Page Summary

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected us all in many different ways, including socially and financially. This page includes information and links to social, financial and community supports available to you and the community.

Financial assistance

Financial assistance programs are available from all levels of government to help individuals and families experiencing financial challenges due to the impacts of COVID-19.

Online tools are available to help you determine which financial benefits you might be eligible for:

Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)

  • If you have had significant changes to your income or lost your job due to COVID-19, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) may provide you with temporary income support of up to $2,000 per month for up to four months.
    • Note: The CERB has been extended from 16 weeks to 24 weeks for those eligible.
  • If you are unsure whether to apply for CERB or EI, please read the Frequently Asked Questions (external link).
  • Information (including Frequently asked questions) available in multiple languages (external link).

Learn more and apply to the CERB or EI

Other Federal government supports

Emergency Assistance

  • Ontario Works helps people who are in temporary financial need, including Emergency Assistance for Ontarians who are in a crisis or facing an unexpected emergency and are unable to meet basic living expenses.
  • Eligibility is based on an assessment of the applicant’s ability to access other resources and meet their basic living expenses and the danger to health of an individual or family if assistance is not issued.
  • Those already receiving Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program are not eligible.
  • You can apply online or call 311.

Learn more and apply to Ontario Works

Community supports

Food Banks and Food Neighborhood Programs

  • There are a number of food banks and neighborhood food programs to help you access food and essential goods if you are:
    • living on a reduced income
    • financially struggling due to COVID-19
    • in social isolation or supporting individuals in social isolation
    • an older adult
    • a person with disabilities
    • a single parent

Find a food bank

Find a neighborhood food program

  • Note: If you are in self-isolation, contact the organization to see if you can send someone on your behalf and inquire about the information required.

Meals on Wheels

  • The Meals on Wheels program delivers affordable, home-style and healthy meals to older adults and adults with disabilities.

Find a service provider

Food for Life

  • Food for Life delivers packages of food and other essential goods (such as infant supplies and hygiene items as available) to residents who are self-isolating and low income.
  • This service is primarily for those who cannot access essential goods through other channels or would be in hardship without support.
  • For more information and to determine if you are eligible for this service:

Community investments during COVID-19

Halton Region is making investments in programs and services that are supporting vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding is being provided through the Halton Region Community Investment Fund (HRCIF) and through Provincial and Federal initiatives. For information on funding opportunities, please email communityresponse@halton.ca.

The following list provides an overview of Regional investments being made in local community programs and services. As more programs and services are approved for funding, they will be added to this page.

Halton Region Community Investment Fund (HRCIF)

Note: The following community programs and initiatives are approved for HRCIF funding in addition to nearly $1.2 million that was granted to 18 programs and initiatives this year as part of commitments made in 2018 or 2019.

Federal and provincial government funding

  • $355,517 allocated between March and May to support additional emergency shelter options and appropriate isolation facilities for individuals previously in congregate environments, who may be symptomatic or who were previously sleeping unsheltered.
  • $116,981 to date for the purchase and distribution of critical Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for operations in emergency shelters, housing with related supports providers, and other key support service providers.
  • Bethany Residence (external link)
    • $221,364 to assist with increased on-site staffing costs, increased supports for 110 residents, intensive cleaning and food security. Funding is also supporting the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE) and hotel costs associated with pre-emptively moving residents into hotels to diminish potential virus transmission.
  • Canadian Mental Health Association: Halton Region Branch (external link)
    • $2,700 for new technology that enables virtual peer support and life skills groups for homeless and at-risk individuals throughout Halton region.
  • Compassion Society of Halton (external link)
    • $5,961 to purchase food and essential goods in Burlington.
  • Food for Life (external link)
    • $50,640 to date to deliver essential goods, fresh food and hot soup to vulnerable residents across Halton region.
  • Front Line Outreach (external link)
    • $5,000 to deliver food and essential hygiene products to vulnerable Oakville and Halton Hills residents.
  • Halton Gujarati Seniors Samaj (external link)
    • $4,070 for tablets to keep older adults connected and engaged in weekly meetings and virtual events.  
  • Home Suite Hope (external link)
    • $4,400 for new technology and other supplies for single mothers with limited financial resources to complete post-secondary requirements virtually.
  • Learning Disabilities Association of Halton - Hamilton (external link)
    • $4,630 to provide one-on-one tutoring to students with learning disabilities to support at-home learning.
  • Links2Care (external link)
    • $68,701 to support a community hub in Acton providing essential support services for vulnerable residents in Halton Hills, including food security
    • $52,200 for a system navigator to support homeless and at-risk populations to access the health care system. The initiative is in partnership with a Community Safety and Well-Being Action Table that is supporting coordinated access to services for residents who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness.
  • Parkside (external link) and Millhouse Resthomes (external link)
    • $20,000 to support increased on-site staff, cleaning, transportation and food costs.
  • Salvation Army Burlington (external link)
    • $5,002 to purchase protective equipment and supplies for the safe operation of food programming in Burlington.
  • Salvation Army Lighthouse (external link)
    • $71,300 to hire new staff to provide support services/case management to shelter clients and assistance with rehousing.
    • $4,281 monthly to support increased on-site cleaning and food distribution.
  • Salvation Army Milton (external link)
    • $30,000 to support emergency food collection and distribution to vulnerable Milton residents.
  • Support and Housing – Halton (external link)
    • $17,558 to support the organization due to ongoing safety protocols required at its eight housing properties.
  • Wellington Square United Church (external link)
    • $5,028 to deliver prepared meals to vulnerable Burlington residents.
  • Wesley Urban Ministries (external link)
    • $4,511 each month to deliver hot meals to individuals and families in temporary hotel environments.
    • $193,340 to support case management and rehousing efforts for single individuals in hotels across Halton.

Volunteer opportunities

  • Volunteer Halton (external link) is seeking volunteers to support the COVID-19 community response in Halton Region.
  • SPARK Ontario (external link) is the Provincial Government’s first bilingual online site to direct volunteers to where they are needed most.
  • Workforce Matching Portal (external link) The Government of Ontario has developed an online workforce matching portal to connect interested health care professionals who are retired, non-active, or internationally educated, and students and volunteers with health care experience, to indicate their interest in contributing to the province’s response to COVID-19.
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