Indigenous

If you need assistance but are not eligible for income assistance or disability assistance, you may be eligible for hardship assistance. All hardship assistance is provided on a temporary basis for one month at a time, and eligibility must be re-established for each month it is requested.

Eligible young adults with care experience can receive Housings Supports between the ages of 19 and 21 to assist with housing or help cover living expenses to improve financial stability and independence. Additional monthly assistance is available to eligible young adults between the ages of 19 and 27 who are renting in the private market for up to two years.

Eligible young adults with care experience can receive Unconditional Income Support of up to $1,250 per month from age 19 to 20 to assist with living expenses, improve financial stability and prevent the experience of homelessness. This monthly assistance can be continued up until age 27 through Conditional Income Support if the young adult is enrolled in one or a combination of post-secondary, vocational, life-skills, rehabilitative or cultural programming.

Eligible young adults with care experience who are focused on developing and/or participating in life-skills programs, pursuing post-secondary education not covered by the Provincial Tuition Waiver Program (PTWP), training or cultural learning, or a combination of the above, can access up to $11,000 in additional funding up to their 27th birthday to support the pursuit of their goals.

Eligible youth and young adults aged 14 to 25 can access transition planning support by a SAJE Navigator, a SAJE Guide, or a similar role available through Indigenous Child and Family Service (ICFS) agencies. These workers assist young people with exploring their hopes and dreams for the future and making a plan for transitioning into adulthood.

If you’ve been in foster care or in a comparable arrangement under Indigenous law, you may qualify for the Strengthening Abilities and Journeys of Empowerment (SAJE) program to help cover the cost of things like housing, childcare, tuition and health care while you go to school or do job training, or attend rehabilitation, mental health, or life skills programs.

The Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program provides eligible First Nations and Inuit clients with coverage for a range of health benefits that are not covered through other social programs, private insurance plans, or provincial or territorial health insurance.