Closed
Emergency Assistance
Short-term financial support in urgent situations
Last Update: May 1, 2026
Funding available
$ 733
Timeline
- Receipt of requests is now closed
Location
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Overview
Emergency assistance provides short-term financial support for people in crisis or emergency situations. It helps cover basic needs such as food and housing, with support generally limited to 48 days and available only after other sources of help have been tried.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 733 $
Timeline
- Receipt of requests is now closed
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Health care and social assistance
Location
- Kingston
- Ontario
Legal structures
- All legal structures
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Short-term financial assistance for urgent personal or family crises
- Temporary support to cover essential living needs
Documents Needed
- Personal information for you and your family
- Housing cost details
- Income and asset information
- Bank account information, if available
- Proof of Canadian status, if applicable
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Individuals living in Ontario
- People in crisis or emergency situations
- Households needing temporary support for basic needs
- CUAET applicants in Ontario
Who is not eligible
- People already receiving Ontario Works assistance
- People already receiving ODSP assistance
- Visitors or tourists in Ontario
Eligible expenses
- Food and housing costs
- Prescription drug costs, through a drug card
Eligible geographic areas
- Ontario
- City of Kingston
- County of Frontenac
Selection criteria
- Severity and urgency of the situation
- Need for support with basic living costs
- Availability of other resources already attempted
- Family safety and well-being risk
How to apply
- Step 1: Gather information
- Collect personal, family, housing, income, asset, and banking details.
- Prepare proof of Canadian status if needed.
- Step 2: Submit your application
- Apply online through the emergency assistance portal, or contact your local Ontario Works office if you cannot apply online.
- Step 3: Application review
- Ontario Works reviews your application and may request additional documents.
- Step 4: Receive a decision and payment
- You are contacted within four business days.
- If approved, payment is issued by direct deposit or cheque.
Processing and Agreement
- Your local Ontario Works office reviews the application.
- You may be contacted within four business days for more information.
- If approved, payment is issued right away by direct deposit or cheque.
- A written decision is provided, and review or appeal options are available in some cases.
Additional information
- You must first try other sources of help.
- A face-to-face meeting and financial assessment are required.
- If denied, the decision cannot be appealed.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Emergency Assistance Program
What is the Emergency Assistance?
Emergency assistance provides short-term financial support for people in crisis or emergency situations. It helps cover basic needs such as food and housing, with support generally limited to 48 days and available only after other sources of help have been tried.
How much funding can be received?
Emergency Assistance Funds up to $733 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Emergency Assistance program?
To be eligible for the Emergency Assistance program, you must:
Ontario resident in crisis
Need for basic living costs
Other help already tried
What expenses are eligible under Emergency Assistance?
Short-term financial assistance for urgent personal or family crises
Temporary support to cover essential living needs
Who can I contact for more information about the Emergency Assistance?
You can contact Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) by email at owongoing@cityofkingston.ca or by phone at 613-546-2695.
Where is the Emergency Assistance available?
The Emergency Assistance program is available the province of Ontario.
Is the Emergency Assistance a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Emergency Assistance is a Grant and Funding