National Emergency Survivor Support (NESS) Fund

In Canada, on average every 6 days a woman loses her life to gender-based violence. Survivors of gender-based violence frequently say that not having enough money was one of the primary reasons they stayed in abusive situations. Without help to leave, survivors have few options available to them to protect themselves and their families. For survivors who are staying at emergency shelters, a lack of financial resources means their ability to start fresh is still at risk. Not having money to pay first and last month’s rent or other expenses means that survivors and their families have to stay longer in shelters. This leads to many shelters not having enough space, forcing them to turn survivors and their children away.

So, we’re taking action.

To meet one of the most frequent and urgent needs voiced by survivors, YWCA Canada, in partnership with YWCA Toronto launched Canada’s first National Emergency Survivor Support Fund (the NESS Fund). This initiative provides women, gender-diverse people and their families with financial support to leave unsafe homes or emergency shelters/precarious housing situations and begin their healing journeys.

What is the NESS Fund?

YWCA’s NESS Fund provides one-time financial support of up to $2,000 to survivors of gender-based violence. The fund helps survivors leave abusive living conditions, emergency shelters or precarious living situations like staying temporarily with friends/family or living unhoused.

Who can apply for YWCA’s NESS Fund?

The fund is open to women, trans, Two-Spirit or gender diverse people who are 16 years of age or older residing in the Greater Toronto Area. Applicants must be seeking support to leave abusive living conditions, leave emergency shelters or precarious housing conditions (staying with family/friends; couch-surfing or living unhoused) they accessed as a result of experiencing violence.

What does gender-based violence mean?

Gender-based violence is an umbrella term describing harmful acts directed at an individual based on their gender. It is rooted in gender inequality, the abuse of power and harmful norms. This includes domestic violence and abuse, intimate-partner violence and family violence.

What can the fund be used for?

The fund is intended to help survivors to leave violence and establish safe, stable housing.

You can apply for help with:
• First and last month’s rent;
• Rental arears that prevent you from signing a new lease;
• Set up expenses for utilities;
• Utilities (hydro, internet, phone) arrears that prevent you from setting up new utilities contracts;
• Moving expenses;
• Storage expense;
• Essential furniture for a new home;
• Travel expenses (bus, train, flight costs) .
• Gender-affirming care and services as needed by trans, Two-Spirit or gender-diverse people;
• Expenses related to attaining permanent resident status or Canadian citizenship; and/or,
• Other essential expenses related to leaving violence and establishing safe, stable housing.

How do I apply for support?

The NESS Fund will be returning as of June 4th, 2024. Applications will be accepted every other week on the following dates:

June 4th, June 19th, July 9th and July 22.

To apply for the YWCA NESS Fund, please fill out the online application form at:

https://ywca.jotform.com/240605204927957

Please note the application link will close once we reach our capacity for each 2 weeks.

I work with survivors; can I apply for support on their behalf?

Yes! Referring workers can apply for the YWCA’s NESS Fund directly through this link:

https://ywca.jotform.com/240605204927957

Please note the application link will close once we reach our capacity for each 2-week period.

Who do I contact if I have questions?

Please contact the NESS Fund Program Support Worker, Leah Liang, at NESSFund@ywcatoronto.org