Closed
Supporting distress centres during the COVID-19 pandemic
Support for distress centres responding to COVID-19
Last Update: May 18, 2026
Funding available
$ 75,000 - $ 250,000
Timeline
- Closing date : October 6, 2021
Location
Canada
Overview
This program provides up to $250,000 to support distress centres responding to COVID-19 pressures. It funds crisis support services delivered by phone, text, or chat, including staffing, training, operating costs, and knowledge exchange.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Increase social or community impact
- Enhance an existing program
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- Minimum amount : 75,000 $
Timeline
- Closing date : October 6, 2021
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Health care and social assistance
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- 4 employees minimum
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Language Minorities
- Other Racialized Persons
- Rural or Northern Residents
- 2SLGBTQI+
- Canadians
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Mental Health and Crisis Intervention
- Social Services
- Emergency and Relief
- Diversity and Inclusion
Target groups
- General public
- Seniors
- Indigenous peoples
- LGBTQ+ community
- Rural / Remote communities
- Minority groups
Revenue structures
- 100% donations / grants
- Mixed revenue (<50% earned)
Scope
- National
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Supporting distress centres that are facing increased demand during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Maintaining and adapting crisis services delivered by phone, text, or chat.
- Improving staffing capacity, training, and service delivery to respond to pandemic pressures.
- Sharing lessons learned through knowledge exchange activities.
Documents Needed
- PHAC Funding Request Form
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Distress centres
- Not-for-profit organizations
- Volunteer organizations
- Charitable organizations
Who is not eligible
- Organizations whose crisis service is not primarily phone, text, or chat support.
- Organizations that began offering phone, text, or chat only after the start of COVID-19.
- Organizations mainly providing information, referrals, telehealth, advisory, or victim services.
- For-profit organizations.
Eligible expenses
- Staff time and overtime, including recruitment, training, and onboarding.
- Operating costs, rental costs, and additional space.
- Equipment, software, and tools for virtual or remote service delivery.
- Infection control and COVID-19 prevention supplies.
- Knowledge exchange, meetings, and communities of practice.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Land, buildings, and vehicles.
- Expanding programs or creating new services not tied to COVID-19 demand.
- Services not primarily delivered by phone, text, or chat.
- Shelter services, mobile crisis response, counselling, and hospital-based services.
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
- Quebec
Selection criteria
- Size of the organization.
- Volume of interactions by phone, text, and/or chat.
- Anticipated level of need.
- Eligible activities proposed.
How to apply
- Step 1: Request the application form
- Contact PHAC to obtain the Funding Request Form.
- Use the subject line specified in the call for applications.
- Step 2: Complete the form
- Fill in the PHAC Funding Request Form for the program.
- Provide the information requested about the organization and proposed support.
- Step 3: Submit the application
- Submit the completed request form to PHAC by the stated deadline.
- Step 4: Await review and results
- PHAC reviews applications and notifies approved applicants.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are reviewed after submission.
- Approved applicants are expected to receive grants in late fall 2021.
- If selected in Quebec, Act M-30 compliance may be required before the agreement is signed.
- PHAC sends the grant letter and related documents for selected Quebec projects to the responsible provincial department.
Additional information
- In Quebec, some organizations may need to comply with Act M-30 before an agreement is signed.
- Selected applicants will receive a grant letter and related documents if approved.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Supporting distress centres during the COVID-19 pandemic Program
What is the Supporting distress centres during the COVID-19 pandemic?
This program provides up to $250,000 to support distress centres responding to COVID-19 pressures. It funds crisis support services delivered by phone, text, or chat, including staffing, training, operating costs, and knowledge exchange.
How much funding can be received?
Supporting distress centres during the COVID-19 pandemic Funds up to $250,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Supporting distress centres during the COVID-19 pandemic program?
To be eligible for the Supporting distress centres during the COVID-19 pandemic program, you must:
Phone, text, or chat crisis support
Not-for-profit or charitable
Operating for 2+ years
What expenses are eligible under Supporting distress centres during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Supporting distress centres that are facing increased demand during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Maintaining and adapting crisis services delivered by phone, text, or chat.
Improving staffing capacity, training, and service delivery to respond to pandemic pressures.
Sharing lessons learned through knowledge exchange activities.
Who can I contact for more information about the Supporting distress centres during the COVID-19 pandemic?
You can contact Government of Canada by email at phac.suicideprevention-preventiondusuicide.aspc@canada.ca or by phone at none.
Where is the Supporting distress centres during the COVID-19 pandemic available?
The Supporting distress centres during the COVID-19 pandemic program is available across Canada.
Is the Supporting distress centres during the COVID-19 pandemic a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Supporting distress centres during the COVID-19 pandemic is a Grant and Funding