PWA FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ANNOUNCEMENT 

Delayed Re-Opening of the Financial Assistance Program

Dear PWA Community Members,

It is with great regret that we announce that PWA must delay the re-opening of the Financial Assistance program. For the time being, we will only provide emergency financial assistance for extreme cases of need. The Positive Senior’s Fund, Positive Children’s Fund, and the Health and Wellness Fund will remain closed at this time. We will reassess opening the program after we complete our largest fundraiser, the Friends for Life Bike Rally, in August 2026.

We cannot re-open the full program because we have not been able to raise enough money to fund the full program. We sincerely apologize for the lateness of this announcement and for all the impact this decision creates. We have explored many creative ways to fund the program, but unfortunately, our efforts have not been successful.

We recognize the weight of this decision for our community. The Financial Assistance program has been one of PWA’s most important services, and the PWA Board sought to protect it for as long as possible. We are making this decision because we must protect PWA’s financial sustainability and ensure its longevity as an organization.

We know this is a very tough time for people living with HIV. The skyrocketing cost of living in Toronto has forced many in our community to struggle with affording rent, nutritious food, and a good quality of life. This reality has made all of PWA services vital — but especially our Financial Assistance program.

In the last three years, the number of people living with HIV whom PWA serves has increased by close to 50%. PWA alone provides 25% of all Ministry of Health funded HIV services in the entire province of Ontario. This combined with the rising rates of HIV infection in Canada has put enormous strain on all our services.

Since COVID, PWA has been running deficit budgets, drawing on financial reserves the organization built up so we could avoid cutting vital programming. Each year, we have allocated over $350,000 to the Financial Assistance program. Unfortunately, we are no longer in a financial position to do so.

The recent closure of ACT (AIDS Committee of Toronto) has been a sobering reminder of the fragility of organizations like ours. The PWA Board is committed to ensuring our sustainability and is actively working with the Senior Leadership team to expand our funding. This is our primary strategic focus with the aim of restoring Financial Assistance in future.

If you have an urgent need or questions about emergency financial assistance, please contact Ower Oberto, Linkage to Care Manager, at (416) 506-1400 ext. 222 or at ooberto@pwatoronto.org. We remain committed to supporting our community through this difficult period and will communicate any updates as soon as they are available.

Signed,
Board Chair – David Morris
Executive Director – Suzanne Paddock
Director of Programs and Services – Ian McKnight

Children’s Holiday Gift Certificate Program 

Purpose: The Children’s Holiday Gift Certificate Program helps HIV+ families with dependent children participate in the Holiday season. 

Eligible community members must be:

• HIV positive. 
• Registered community members of PWA. 
• Have dependent children 17 years of age and younger.

POSITIVE CHILDREN’S FUND

Purpose: The Positive Children’s Fund helps HIV+ children, and their families manage some of the financial burdens they face with daily living, including such items as outgrown clothes, school activities, diapers and formula. 

Amount: $200 between April 1st – March 31st 

Eligible children must be: 

• HIV positive. 

• Registered community members of PWA. 

• 17 years old and younger.  

POSITIVE SENIORS’ FUND 

Purpose: The Positive Senior’s Fund helps HIV+ seniors manage some of the financial burdens they face when they receive OAS (Old Age Security), including a reduced monthly income and reduced insurance coverage. 

Amount: $200 between April 1st – March 31st  

Eligible community members must be: 

• HIV positive. 

• Registered community members of PWA. 

• 65 years old and older. 

HEALTH AND WELLNESS FUND  

Purpose: The Health and Wellness Fund helps people living with HIV/AIDS manage some of the financial burdens they face when improving and maintaining their health and wellness.  

Amount: $300 between April 1st and March 31st. PWA reimburses 50% of eligible expenses until a member reaches a maximum of $300 (e.g., for a $100 expense, PWA would cover $50).

• Community members can receive a maximum of $300 during the fiscal year to help support their health and wellness. 

• Once a community member has received $300, they must wait until the following April 1st to begin receiving financial assistance again. 

• Funds not used during any year cannot be carried over to the next or transferred to another community member. 

Eligible community members must be: 

• HIV positive. 

• Registered community members of PWA. 

Expenses may fall under one or more of the categories listed below. Community members can receive up to $300 in reimbursements per fiscal year, subject to budget availability. 

• Prescription Medications. 

• Includes: items with a Drug Identification Number (D.I.N.), Trillium Drug Program deductible (those submitting to private insurance first then to Trillium must provide their quarterly Trillium statement within 30 days of it being issued). 

• Traditional Medicine  

• Accessed by clients identifying as Indigenous 

• Dental 

• Emergency veterinary  

• Includes: emergency veterinary expenses related to prevention, accident and/or illness.  

• Immigration application/legal fees 

• Includes: fees for citizenship, humanitarian and compassion, permanent residence and sponsorship applications; Legal fees associated with immigration. 

• Optical 

• Includes: prescription eye wear including contact lenses.  Eye exams are covered by O.H.I.P for HIV+ people and are not eligible.  

• Complimentary Therapies 

• Includes: complementary therapies from practitioners registered with a professional association such as massage, acupuncture, naturopathy, chiropractic, osteopathy, etc. 

• Counseling 

• Includes: therapy from practitioners registered with a professional association such as psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists and social workers. 

• Education 

• Includes: tuition, course fees and verified books and supplies at an accredited school/institute for professional and personal learning. 

• Exercise 

• Includes: gym membership and fitness courses. 

• Foot care 

• Includes: services from a registered podiatrist or chiropodist.  

• Hearing 

• Includes: devices and exams. 

• Medical devices 

• Includes: items with a prescription such as glucose monitoring machine, colostomy bags, SAD lamp, etc. 

• Medicinal marijuana 

• Includes: purchases made only from the government or medicinal marijuana clinics and buyers’ clubs. 

• Receipts must include client name, quantity, cost, member # and date. 

• Buyers’ clubs and clinics are aware of our guidelines. Make sure to ask for a receipt when making a purchase. 
• Medical tests & procedures 
• Includes: PSA test (prostate specific antigen), anal/vaginal PAP smear, fertility procedures, etc. 

• Medical transportation 

• Includes: 2 tokens provided for medical appointments with an official appointment card. 

• Mobility devices 

• Includes: items with a prescription such as crutches, scooters, wheelchairs, etc. 

• Occupational Therapy 

• Orthopedic devices 

• Includes: items with a prescription such as braces, orthotics, etc. 

• Physiotherapy 

• Supplements 

• Includes: vitamins, minerals, Ensure, Boost, protein powders and other supplements.
• Winter outerwear: Boots, coats, gloves, hats, scarves and snow pants only. 

In o funds:

HOW TO ACCESS THESE FUNDS 

• Contact your Income and Community Liaison prior to purchase to ensure expense eligibility. 

• Submit your receipts (clear copies accepted) within 30 calendar days of the date on the receipt. If you experience challenges submitting your receipts on time, contact your Income and Community Liaison for assistance.  

• If your receipt cannot be reimbursed, you will be contacted if you have provided an active phone number or email address. 

• Approved receipts will be processed, and your cheque will be available on the 15th of the following month you submitted your receipts. 

• Cheques must be picked up and deposited within 60 days from the 15th of the month otherwise they will be voided and cannot be reissued.  

• You can cash your cheque free of charge at Alterna Savings located at 800 Bay Street (corner of Bay/College) if you request a letter from PWA stating you are a PWA client. You can request this letter when you pick up your cheque. 

POSSIBLE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BUDGET RESTRICTIONS 

• PWA will strive to keep the Financial Assistance Program operating for the full fiscal year or for as long as the budget will allow. 

• PWA established an Advisory Committee in 2018 to review the Financial Assistance program.  The committee was made up of clients, service access volunteers and staff members.   In addition, clients were engaged via a survey to provide their feedback.   The recommendation is that should PWA experience budget restrictions the following steps should be taken:   

• PWA should inform clients on April 1st, that funds are limited and keep program open until the funds are exhausted. 

• If such closures need to happen, PWA will strive to communicate this with as much advanced notice as possible. 

Update on PWA’s Financial Assistance Program

ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS 

• PWA accepts both original and copies of receipts. You are welcome to fax or email your receipts to your Income and Community Liaison.   

• Prescription medication includes anything with a D.I.N. (drug identification number); 

• Those on Private Insurance & Trillium must submit their quarterly Trillium statement within 30 days of it being issued. 

• We do not cover eye exams as they are covered by O.H.I.P. Your eye doctor needs to complete a “Request for Major Eye Exam”. Please see your Income and Community Liaison for more information. 

• We accept emergency vet expenses (accidents and illness only) but not expenses related to spay, neuter, check-up, vaccinations, etc., 

• Complimentary Therapies must be provided by someone with a professional association registration number and your receipt should include their G.S.T. registration number. 

• Receipts cannot be submitted twice. 

• Receipts must be dropped off within 30 days of the date on the receipt.   

• Cheques cannot be made available before the 15th of the following month. 

• Cheques must be picked up and deposited within 60 days from the 15th of the month, issued otherwise they will be void and cannot be reissued.  

• You can cash your cheque free of charge at Alterna Savings located at 800 Bay Street (corner of Bay/College) if you request a letter from PWA stating you are a PWA client. You can request this letter when you pick up your cheque.