Housing Support FAQs

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Applying to the Housing Support Program

Who can apply to the Housing Support Program?

Families who have a child in active cancer treatment and who live in Canada.  The child in treatment must be under 18 years old.

Why can’t families apply directly to the Housing Support Program?

We rely on Social Workers and Oncology Resource Navigators to identify families who have a child in active cancer treatment and are in financial need.  Social Workers and Oncology Resource Navigators know the families well and are in the best position to identify childhood cancer families for this program.

What hospitals are currently running the Housing Support Program?

Kindred Foundation is currently accepting applications to the Housing Support Program from the following hospitals:

1. The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids)

2. Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO)

3. Montreal Children’s Hospital

4. IWK Health Centre

What process should I expect if I apply to the Housing Support Program?

1. Social Workers apply to the Housing Support Fund for the family.  They work with the family to gather the necessary information and documents.  Once this information has been collected, the Social Worker completes the application and submits it to Kindred Foundation.

2. The team at Kindred checks the application for completeness, puts all of the documents into a shared and password-protected repository, and then connects the family with their provincial Licensed Insolvency Trustee (LIT).

3. The LIT meets with the family and then debriefs with Kindred Foundation.

4. If the family has a mortgage, they meet with a licensed residential mortgage specialist to receive support.

5. All of the documents are provided to the Housing Support Committee for review.  If the application is approved, Kindred confirms the e-mail address for the e-transfer, that the family will use the funds to pay their mortgage or rent, and that it will not impact any income benefits/supports currently being received.

6. Kindred provides the family with an e-transfer of $5,000 but can provide a cheque if necessary.

Important Considerations

What happens if a family has joint custody of a child in cancer treatment?

If a family has joint custody of a child in cancer treatment, this needs to be identified by the Social Worker submitting the application.  There is only one payment provided per patient.  For families with joint custody, half of the payment can be provided to each caregiver.

How do I know if my income benefits will be impacted?

If you are receiving any income or government supports, it is critical to determine if receiving a housing support payment will impact these benefits.  This is the responsibility of the family and Kindred Foundation is not responsible for if there are any changes to these benefits if a family receives a housing support payment.  The housing support payment is considered a housing subsidy and not income.

Meeting with a Licensed Insolvency Trustee (LIT)

Do I need to talk to a Licensed Insolvency Trustee as part of the Housing Support Program?

Yes.  If you don’t meet with an LIT, your application will not move forward in the process.

What is the role of a Licensed Insolvency Trustee?

Licensed Insolvency Trustees (LIT) are regulated by Industry Canada and are provincially licensed to provide debt relief options, including credit counselling, debt settlement, debt consolidation, consumer proposals, and personal bankruptcy. 

Will the Licensed Insolvency Trustee only recommend that I file for bankruptcy?

No, absolutely not.  LITs have many different tools that they can use to help you manage your personal finances.  You can read more here: Top Alternatives to Bankruptcy in Canada

How long will my meeting be with the LIT?

This will vary depending on your situation.  Most meetings are no more than 30 minutes in length and are done virtually.  If preferred, in-person meetings can also be arranged.

What can I expect when meeting with the LIT?

The LIT will ask questions about your current financial situation – your savings, assets, and anything owing.  During this call, they may be able to provide some initial feedback on changes that could be made to help your personal financial situation.

Do I need to gather any additional information for my meeting with the LIT?

No, you do not need to gather any information to prepare for the meeting.

Meeting with a Licensed Residential Mortgage Specialist

What kind of support can I expect from a Residential Mortgage Specialist?

The Residential Mortgage Specialist will go through your current mortgage details with you and make recommendations about possible changes to your mortgage terms.  They can also suggest programs that might be available at your mortgage institution which you may be able to access.

Receiving a Housing Support Payment

Will receiving a housing support payment from a charity impact my credit score?

No.  Any form of income is not included in your credit score, including grants, pay cheques, etc.  You can read more here: 7 Facts About Your Credit Rating (What’s in your Credit Score?)

How can I accept my payment from the Housing Support Program?

We can provide the payment by e-transfer or by cheque.  If you are receiving funds by cheque, this will take approximately 2-4 weeks to arrive once your application is approved.  If you are receiving funds by e-transfer, this will take approximately 2-4 days once your application is approved.

What happens after I receive support from the Housing Support Program?

A few months after you receive support from the Kindred Foundation Housing Support Program, we will check-in with you by email to see if you have any feedback about the process and how it could be improved.  We are open to any input you would like to share. 

We will also ask if you would be willing to share a little of your story to include in our quarterly newsletter, website, and social media.  We understand this is a lot to ask and it is completely up to you if you are willing to share about your family’s experience.  We want to make sure our donors and funders know the good that is being done with their donations. 

If you have other questions, please don't hesitate to contact Kindred Foundation.