AYA Resources

Practical Support

Living with cancer can impact your life in many ways beyond the physical and mental aspects. There is a lot of planning and logistics that go into rearranging your life. Many organizations provide practical support to patients and families to help reduce some of the barriers to receiving care and focusing on recovery. Below is a list of programs and services available.

Financial Support

• Wellspring Money Matters Consultation Service - Wellspring's Money Matters program provides patients with access to individual access to financial counselling, connecting them with expert case managers that help with income replacement and drug compensation programs.
• Wellspring Money Matters Video Series - The Money Matters video series is comprised of short videos that describe the income replacement programs and other financial resources that may be available to you if you need to take time off of work due to your illness and treatment. The videos only discuss programs available to residents of Ontario. Videos are accurate as of May 2023 as government programs may change from time to time.
• Canadian Cancer Society - Some other programs that you might be able to access for financial help while you are being treated for cancer and during your recovery.
• Shine Through the Rain: Rainy Day Fund - Shine Through the Rain is a charity that offers funding to patients with cancer through their Rainy Day Fund. 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 and hospital transportation and parking costs. Shine Through The Rain also reviews special requests for consideration above and beyond the scope of services already covered.
• Severe Permanent Disability Benefit (Government of Canada) - Borrowers with a severe permanent disability who are unable to repay their Canada Student Loans may be eligible to have their debt cancelled through the Severe Permanent Disability Benefit. You have to apply and qualify for this benefit.
• Trillium Drug Program - The Trillium Drug Program helps people under the age of 65 who have high prescription drug costs relative to their household income.
• Power of Hope: Cost Reduction Program - Multi-dimensional plan that offers financial assistance to qualifying cancer patients who are 40 years and younger, providing a reduction in the overall cost required to pursue fertility preservation treatment.
• Canadian Breast Cancer Support Fund (Breast Cancer) - This fund supports those diagnosed with breast cancer and either in active treatment or within two months of completing treatment who are living at or below the poverty line. It provides assistance for expenses not covered by health insurance, social assistance and family income. Applicants may apply for financial assistance of $1000, or apply up to twice in a year ($2000 maximum).
• Kelly Shires Breast Cancer Foundation (Breast Cancer) - This program provides financial assistance to those diagnosed with breast cancer for transportation, parking, food costs, home health, prosthetics, supportive care, rent, etc. Patients can apply 3 times to the Trust fund per calendar year with a maximum of $1000 each application.
• Coping with Cancer - Financial Programs for Patients with Cancer and their Caregivers (UHN Brochure)

Transportation Support

Canadian Cancer Society

Do you need to travel across town — or across the province — to receive cancer treatment? We can help. We will work with you to help you find the best option for travelling to your treatment

• Canadian Cancer Society Transportation Options »
• Wheels of Hope Driving Program »

Accessible Public Transportation

Many public transportation companies offer door to door transportation to patients whose treatment and side effects prevent them from using conventional transit. Search “Specialized Transit” or “Paratransit” in your region.

• TTC Wheel-Trans »
• Peel Transhelp »
• York Region Mobility On-Request »
• Durham Region Transit (DRT) Specialized Services »
• Burlington Handi-Van »
• Barrie Specialized Transit »

Other Transportation Support

• One kilometre time transportation subsidy program (Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada) - Referred patients receive a one-time $300 pre-paid Visa card from LLSC to help cover costs related to medical travel.

Other Support

• Nankind In-home Childcare - For four hours a week, a volunteer angel who has been uniquely matched to support your family will engage with your children. Children will explore fun activities designed to help them express their emotions and understand your cancer. Take this time to rest and recover.
• Household Cleaning Support: Cleaning for a Reason - Cleaning for a Reason provides free home cleaning to patients battling cancer. When cancer makes life at home difficult, our trusted network of residential cleaners, cleaning industry volunteers, and community volunteers come together to support cancer patients and their families.
• Drug Coverage & Cost Reduction: Trillium Drug Program - The Trillium Drug Program helps people under the age of 65 who have high prescription drug costs relative to their household income.
• Nankind Meal Support - A lifeline that provides families already receiving support from Nankind with prepared meals during the most difficult time of their cancer journey. Healthy and delicious meals, delivered right to your door, so you don’t have to worry about your family’s nutrition. *Family must meet eligibility criteria.