COVID-19 resources: economic response plans and advocacy issues

This information is not regularly updated and this information should be considered archival. Please visit these sites for the most current information:

 


As information on prevention, policy, and programs is rapidly evolving, these resources generally direct users to frequently updated sites, rather than single pages that can go quickly out of date. We provide evidence-based resources and encourage members to dig deeper as their mission/work requires. We are grateful to everyone as they do their best through this crisis and wish all well as we work within this extraordinary time.

 

This Safety Plan Builder helps walk any small non-profit leader through the creation of a reliable safety plan. By looking at the safety plan process through the eyes of the leader of not-for-profit organizations, this Builder tool breaks it down to key links, key questions to be answered, and key members of the community being served.

The Government of Canada announced on March 18, 2020 that they are taking immediate action as a result of COVID-19. A sample of these actions include:

• temporary income support for workers and parents without paid sick leave
• long term income support for those who lose their jobs or face reduced hours
• one-time payment for low- and modest-income families
• increase to the maximum annual Canada Child Benefit (CCB) payment for the 2019-20 benefit year
• funding to address immediate needs in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Nation communities
• six-month interest-free moratorium on the repayment of Canada Student Loans
• funding to support people experiencing homelessness
• funding to women’s shelters and sexual assault centres
• reduction of required minimum withdrawals from Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs) by 25% for 2020
• measures relating to tax filings, including deferring this year’s due date to June 1

Visit federal government site for details.

COVID-19 Provincial Support and Information: this resource from the Government of BC provides emerging and up-to-date information on BC’s Response to COVID-19, including information for employers.

Emergency Funds and Income Assistance (BC-specific): (April 2020 info) The Disability Alliance of BC has been advocating at the provincial and federal levels for supports to ensure people with disabilities stay safe during the pandemic. They note the announcement of “emergency measures for people on income assistance (IA) and PWD, including an automatic $300 crisis supplement for the next three months for people on IA and PWD who are not receiving EI or the CERB. Visit DABC’s COVID-19 Systemic Advocacy Efforts to learn about their current work.

Questions and Answers about Canada’s Recovery Benefits, which has replaced the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).

Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) Information on Clawbacks and Enforcement: The CERB program has ended, but some people preparing their 202 tax returns may have questions about having received CERB benefits. This information was provided to PAN by Meenakshi Mannoe, Criminalization & Policing Campaigner at PIVOT Legal Society in May 2020.

COVID-19 Support for Income & Disability Assistance (BC Government): Information from the provincial government on emergency funds, income and disability assistance, BC bus pass program, and more. “Due to COVID-19, new emergency measures are in place to ensure that people on income or disability assistance and low-income seniors, do not encounter additional barriers.”

 

See all COVID-19 resource pages

 

PAN updates to members

 

COVID-19 Prevention and vaccine updates

HIV and Hepatitis C

Housing

 

 

Harm Reduction: substances and sex

 

 

Indigenous Communities and Cultural Safety

 

Prison Populations

 

Mental Health

 

 

Economic Response Plans

 

Funding sustainability for non-profits

 

Workplace Adaptation

 

COVID-19 Home

 

Reviewed/ updated April 2021