Charities and non-profit organizations struggling to meet their clientele's needs are getting help from the federal government.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the Emergency Community Support Fund Tuesday.
A total of $350 million will flow to national organizations like the United Way/Centraide Canada, the Canadian Red Cross, and the Community Foundations of Canada to distribute to agencies stretched as they help the most vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Local charities can use the funding to train new volunteers, replace one-on-one meetings with virtual ones, drive seniors and the disabled to appointments, scale-up helplines, and make home deliveries.
Many of those relying on charities and non-profits do not qualify for the Canada Emergency Benefit, which is already helping Canadians across the country pay bills while the economy is on hold.
"Their mission has always been to support people in their time of need, and that hasn't changed," said Trudeau. "But, COVID-19 is putting a tremendous amount of pressure on those organizations because more people need help."
Charities and non-profits can also apply for the 75 per cent wage subsidy program that opens for applications on Monday, April 27.
Trudeau also announced the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy is also launching an online calculator employers can use to predict how much they may be eligible to receive under the program.