COVID-19: Support for people

Learn what financial, mental health and other supports are available during covid 19.

Financial support

Learn what financial support is available in addition to Employment Insurance and other relief from the federal government’s covid 19 Economic Response Plan during covid 19.

In this section:

Financial help for basic needs

If you are in a crisis or emergency situation, need help paying for food and housing, and are not already on Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), you can apply for covid 19 emergency assistance.

Current Ontario Works and ODSP recipients

If you currently receive income support from Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program, you will continue to receive your regular monthly payments.

If you need money to travel to get a covid 19 vaccination, speak with your caseworker.

If you have other exceptional covid 19-related costs, ask your case worker about discretionary benefits.

Get information about your Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program.

Find your Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program office.

Shelters and food banks, charities and non-profits

Ontario-funded emergency shelters for women and children fleeing violence are available to offer support during the covid 19 outbreak.

We are also giving funding directly to Consolidated Municipal Service Managers, District Social Services Administration Boards and Indigenous Program Administrators to support local needs.

Contact your local municipality.

Changes to renting

We’ve made temporary changes to residential rental processes.

Learn about the changes and where tenants and landlords can get help.

We also passed legislation to freeze rent at 2020 levels. This means that rents will not increase in 2021 for the vast majority of renters.

Learn more about the rent freeze.

Help for electricity bills

Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)

Through LEAP, low-income customers who are in arrears and may be facing disconnection can get direct support to pay bills and ensure electricity and natural gas services are not disconnected.

If you are behind on your bill and may face having your service disconnected, you could qualify for up to:

  • $500 for electricity bills ($600 if your home is heated electrically)
  • $500 for natural gas bills

covid 19 Energy Assistance Program (CEAP)

The CEAP program is ending. Utilities will continue to provide CEAP credits if they have funds remaining.

Contact your electricity and/or natural gas utility to find out if they are still accepting applications.

More information is available from the Ontario Energy Board.

Interest rate and fee caps on payday loans

Effective August 20, 2020, amendments to the Payday Loans Act, 2008, will help individuals facing financial hardship as a result of covid 19.

As of August 20, 2020, the interest that lenders can charge on payday loans in default will be limited to a maximum interest rate of 2.5% per month (non-compounded) on the outstanding principal. This will provide relief to borrowers who are unable to repay their loans on time.

These amendments also establish a maximum fee of $25 that may be charged for dishonoured or bounced cheques or pre-authorized debits, effective August 20, 2020. This fee may only be charged once, regardless of the number of times a payment instrument is dishonoured.

Supports for children and youth

Child welfare

Children’s aid societies continue to operate and provide services to children, youth and families. Societies are being encouraged to use technology where possible and appropriate, while also observing local public health recommendations. Throughout the covid 19 outbreak, youth in care who turn 18 and former youth in care who turn 21 will not age out of the supports and services they are currently receiving through children’s aid societies.

Guidance in congregated care settings

Get information about children’s aid societies

Children with special needs

Service providers are offering some services through telephone and video applications where appropriate and have resumed offering some in-person services for children with special needs and their families, in accordance with public health guidelines. You can contact your service provider for updated information and to discuss what services may be available.

Get information about services for children with special needs

Get information about services under the Ontario Autism Program

Youth justice facilities

Some services at provincially-operated youth justice facilities and probation offices are cancelled or are being provided through technology.

Get information about Youth justice facilities

Emergency shelters and other support services

Women and children’s shelters

Ontario funded emergency shelters for women and children fleeing violence are available to offer support during the covid 19 outbreak.

If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or your local police.

To find support in your area, call one of the provincial crisis lines or contact Ontario 211 by phone at 2-1-1 or 1-877-330-3213 (toll-free), and TTY at 1-888-340-1001.

Guidance in congregated care settings

Get information about emergency shelters

Human trafficking services and supports

Services for victims and survivors of human trafficking may be affected during the covid 19 outbreak. Please contact your nearest service provider for updated information.

Get information about human trafficking supports

Developmental services

Developmental services agencies continue to support people with developmental disabilities during the covid 19 outbreak, but some offices or programs may be closed or impacted, and visits to residential programs may be restricted to help protect residents and staff. Please contact your service provider for updated information.

Guidance in congregated care settings

Get information about developmental services.

Child and spousal support payments

The Family Responsibility Office (FRO) continues to help families get the support they are entitled to by collecting, distributing and enforcing child and spousal support payments during the covid 19 outbreak. FRO’s in-person service counter is closed, but service is available by phone and online.

Get information about the Family Responsibility Office

Settlement services for newcomers

Ontario funded settlement agencies are not currently providing in-person settlement services. However, many settlement agencies are offering services remotely, online and by phone to help newcomers and refugees find the services they need to integrate into Ontario. Settlement information and resources are also available in multiple languages through Settlement.org.

Get information about settlement agencies

Get information about adult language training courses

Extensions on validations and deadlines

In this section:

Driver’s licenses, vehicle and carrier products

Learn about expiry-date extensions for driver’s licenses, vehicle and carrier products and services due to covid 19.

Health cards

You do not need to renew your health card until further notice. Recently expired health cards will be accepted.

Ontario Autism Program registration

We’ve extended the deadline to submit your Ontario Autism Program registration form and supporting documents to be eligible for interim one-time funding. Once we’ve set a new deadline we’ll announce it on the Autism in Ontario page.

Mental health, wellness and addictions support

Alert icon

If this is an emergency, if you or someone you know is in immediate danger, or if you or someone you know is thinking of suicide, please call 911 or go to your nearest hospital or emergency department.

If you are currently receiving mental health and addictions services and support, please contact your current service provider. Many providers are modifying their services to offer virtual care, meeting clients by phone or secure video-conferencing.

If you aren’t currently receiving services and would like support for your wellbeing, there are services and information you can access online or by phone.

You can find information about programs that may be right for you based on your mental health and addictions needs, and the type of support that you prefer. You can:

Find public mental health or addiction programs

For help connecting with the right public mental health and addictions program or support across Ontario, contact ConnexOntario - available 24/7:

Access self-led telephone or online therapy for stress, anxiety and depression

BounceBack is a free skill-building program that adults and youth 15+ can access over the phone. With the guidance of a coach, you’ll work through a series of workbooks at your own schedule, to gain practical skills to better manage low mood, anxiety, worry or stress. You’ll learn things like how to improve your mood by changing the way you think or respond to things.

You can find:

  • workbooks and coaching available for youths and adults (15 and older) in English and French. For those 19 and older, content is also available in Arabic, Farsi, Spanish and Traditional Chinese.
  • videos with helpful tips, available in English, French, Arabic, Farsi, Cantonese, Mandarin and Punjabi

Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (iCBT)

Internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT) is a practical, short-term program delivered online. It helps people develop skills and strategies to address symptoms of mild to moderate anxiety and/or depression. It can also help people cope with situations related to covid 19, such as isolation, pressure caring for family and community members, information overload and stress.

If iCBT is right for you, you will be supported by a therapist online to:

  • work through modules
  • complete readings and exercises
  • learn coping and resilience skills

To learn more and get services, contact either:

Online recovery support program

Breaking Free Online is a free online support tool designed to help you reduce or stop the use of over 70 substances, such as tobacco, alcohol and drugs, including opioids.

Breaking Free Online uses practical, self-guided courses , positive coping skills and behaviour change techniques to support individuals in recovery and help prevent a relapse. It can be used alone, or as part of an ongoing treatment program supervised by clinicians.

It is:

  • free for Ontarians 16 and older
  • available online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  • easy, safe and confidential
  • available in English and French

Find mental health resources for children and youth

There are mental health services for children and youth under 18 across Ontario.

Talk to or text a counselor

For support at any time of day, children and youth can call 1-800-668-6868 or text connect to 686868 to contact Kids Help Phone. Kids Help Phone can also help you find public resources, services and support for children and youth based on your location.

Talk or text mental health support for post-secondary students

If you are a post-secondary student, you can use Good2Talk, a 24/7 service that offers confidential support through phone and text. Call 1-866-925-5454 or text GOOD2TALKON to 686868.

Find mental health support for Indigenous people

Indigenous peoples can contact Hope for Wellness for immediate mental health counselling and crisis intervention across Canada. To get help:

Services are available in some Indigenous languages.

Indigenous women

Indigenous women can contact Talk 4 Healing for culturally appropriate and confidential support and resources seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Services are available in 14 languages. To get help:

This resource is available in English only.

Get support if you are a health care worker

If you are a health care worker impacted by stress related to covid 19, support is available to help you cope. This support includes resources you can access on your own, with a group of peers or with a clinician.

Self-led support

Find resources you can access on your own with tips and ideas to help you maintain your mental wellness and cope with stress.

Get support with peers

Participate in an online session with peers to learn about ways to build resilience and maintain wellness through lectures and case-based discussions by joining:

These resources are available in English only.

Talk to a clinician

If you are a frontline health care worker and would like confidential support from a clinician, including iCBT supports, you can self-refer online or by phone to any of the access points below.

Support for seniors and people with disabilities (PWD)

Accessible Drive to Vaccines

If you are a person with a disability or a senior with mobility issues, you could get help getting to a vaccination site so you can get your COVID-19 vaccine.

You are eligible for this program, if you:

  • have a COVID-19 vaccine appointment booked for the date of transportation requested
  • are a person with a disability, as defined under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, including physical, mental, developmental, learning, mobility, vision or hearing impairment.

Visit the Accessible Drive to Vaccines website for more details.

If you can’t request service using the internet or you require service in a language other than English or French, call:

  • 211on any phone
  • 1-877-330-3213
  • 1-888-340-1001

Ontario community support program

If you are a low-income senior or a person with a disability (PWD) in need, such as those in supportive housing environments or community-based independent living programs, you can get:

  • paid or subsidized delivery of meals
  • delivery of medicine and other necessities

Visit the covid 19 Community Support Finder to get help.

If you can’t request service using the internet or you require service in a language other than English or French, call:

  • 211 on any phone
  • 1-877-330-3213
  • 1-888-340-1001

211 Ontario

Get information and referrals to community, government, social and health services, including mental health resources, across Ontario.

Seniors Active Living Centres

These centres offer social, cultural, learning and recreational programs. Contact your local centre to see if virtual or telephone programming is available.

Seniors Safety Line

The Seniors Safety Line is a 24/7, confidential and free resource that provides information, referrals and support in over 150 languages for seniors experiencing abuse. Trained counsellors also provide safety planning and supportive counseling.

Call 1-866-299-1011 for support. If you are in danger right now, call 911 or your local police.

Ontario Caregiver Helpline

Provides caregivers with a one-stop resource for information and support, including a 24/7 helpline.

Call 1-833-416-2273 or connect to live chat online.

Volunteer opportunities

Help seniors, people with disabilities, and the most vulnerable stay connected and healthy as they self-isolate.

Volunteer organizations can visit SPARK Ontario to post volunteer opportunities available in their communities.

If you are interested in volunteering, we encourage you to check the website for opportunities to make a difference in your community.

Updated: August 30, 2021