Hardship Relief

What it is

The Hardship Fund is the Foundation's emergency arm. It gives short-term, direct help to a household that has been hit by something sudden and has no way to absorb it this month. It is not a loan, it does not need to be repaid, and it never carries a fee.

Relief is paid, wherever possible, directly to the party that needs paying — a landlord, a utility, a pharmacy, a funeral home — so that the emergency is actually resolved rather than moved.

What it covers

• A gap in rent or a utility bill after a job loss, a cut in hours, an illness or an injury.
• An urgent medical or prescription cost that cannot wait for coverage or a payment plan to start.
• A family emergency — travel after a death, a deposit, a document fee that stands between you and help.
• Basic needs — food, transport to work, a phone that keeps you reachable — while a longer-term program starts.
• Bridge support while a wage claim, a benefits application or an insurance claim is in progress.

What it does not cover

• Ongoing monthly support (we connect you to programs designed for that).
• Business debts, fines, legal fees or immigration fees.
• Anything that a partner or public program can cover faster and more fully — we route you there first, and we bridge only if the timing requires it.

How requests are assessed

1. You tell us what happened, in your own words, through the help request form or by email.
2. We call or write back within two business days — sooner when the request is flagged urgent — to understand the situation, the amount that would resolve it, and what else is already available to you.
3. We decide together on the fastest route. Sometimes that is a public program you did not know about; sometimes it is a partner; sometimes it is the Hardship Fund; often it is a combination.
4. Relief is paid to the party that needs paying, and we confirm in writing what was done.
5. We follow up in the following weeks to make sure the emergency has not simply moved to next month.

Assessment is a conversation, not an interrogation. We ask what we need to help, and nothing more.

What to prepare {#prepare}

• The bill, notice or amount that would resolve the emergency (a photo is fine).
• A way to reach you — phone, WhatsApp, email — and the language you prefer.
• What has changed: a job loss, reduced hours, an illness, a death, an accident.
• What you have already tried or applied for, if anything.
• If it is a housing emergency: the notice you received and the date on it (see eviction notice: next steps).

You do not need to prove immigration status, and we will never ask.

When funds are limited

The Hardship Fund is fed by donations and grants, and it is finite. When it is stretched we tell you honestly, we prioritise the requests where a small amount prevents a large harm — an eviction, a shut-off, a missed treatment — and we still help you reach every other program that applies. Help is always given as resources allow, and every request receives a personal response.