After-Hours Emergency Services

Provides critical services to income assistance applicants and recipients when local ministry offices are closed, a critical incident has occurred outside of business hours, and all other options have been explored. Individuals may also be assessed for services. Service can be provided if there are no other resources available, such as funds, shelters, or free food resources in the community. Does not provide direct funding, but rather issues purchase authorizations directly to the service provider to meet a need. Assistance provided is short-term and only intended to meet the immediate emergency need. Examples of circumstances where someone could be assessed for services include a family with no funds fleeing abuse when shelters are full or free food is unavailable, requiring a hotel or food until the next business day when they can contact their local ministry office for support; for grocery assistance, a grocer in the community must be an approved service provider for the Ministry. Requests for essential transportation to or from a medical facility may also be considered; example circumstances include an individual being discharged from the hospital without funds who requires a taxi for medical reasons (confirmation from a hospital representative is required), or an individual on the transplant list with no funds being notified to attend hospital outside of business hours. Hours are 4:30 pm to 8:30 am Monday to Friday, and 24 hours on Saturdays and Sundays.