Rainy Day Fund

People suffering illness often face financial difficulties. Suddenly, household bills become overwhelming; utilities are in jeopardy of being shut-off or an eviction notice is received. The Rainy Day Fund provides emergency payments directly to the utility companies and landlords, ensuring that each patient has a warm, safe place to call home while recovering.

The Rainy Day Fund also provides grocery gift cards & hospital transportation and parking costs. Shine Through The Rain also reviews special requests for consideration above and beyond the scope of services already covered.

Program Guidelines
The Rainy Day Fund is a monthly program that works directly with your social worker. They will work with you and your family to complete the application and to include the additional documentation needed.

*All Applications are due on the 15th of each month.

If you are interested in applying for funding through the Rainy Day Fund, here are a few guidelines to consider. A full set of instructions will accompany the actual application.

• The Rainy Day Fund is a monthly distribution program.
• The deadline for all applications is the 15^th of every month, unless the 15^th falls on a weekend, in which case the deadline will be Friday. Any applications submitted to STTRF after the 15^th, will only be considered for that month IF remaining funding exists. Therefore we highly recommend that applications be submitted between the 1^st – 15^th of every month.
• All patients must be currently receiving active treatment to qualify for consideration.
• Financial assistance program for Canadian citizens who are currently in treatment at a maximum of $1500 per person per year. Admission criterion: annual income of less than $60,000 annually.
• You can apply for funding to help with transportation, rent, utility, and phone costs.
• You may apply for grocery gift cards up to $100 per month. (Do not apply for any amount higher than $100 as it will be declined)
• Transportation is defined as parking, taxi, bus, and train expenses. For all transportation requests, please provide proof of receipts and record of appointments which must correspond to the date on the receipts. STTRF reserves the right to reimburse for transportation expenses for the current year and up to January of the following year. 
• You can also apply for gas gift cards in the amount of $100 per month. All gas card requests must be accompanied with list of appointments attended and/or a copy of future treatment plan that will potentially cause the patient a great financial stressor, gas cards are to assist with the cost of attending medical treatment appointments.
• Only utility and rental fee bills 30 days overdue will be considered. A utility request is defined as a heating, electrical or water bill.
• Utility, rent and transportation expenses must be a minimum of $100 to be considered for funding.
• Cell phone bills are NOT eligible for funding unless it is the ONLY phone being used in the home. Cable payments, mortgage payments, car payments, insurance or tax bills and medical payments are not eligible for funding.
• Copies of all bills or rental agreements being requested must be submitted with application.
• A brief narrative describing the patient’s situation and the family’s need must be included and written by the social worker or hospital personnel.
• If the application is approved, cheque(s) will be made payable to each utility company and mailed directly to the family on or before the last day of each month.