If anyone may be in immediate danger, call 911 or your local emergency number.
What Is Needed First?
Ask: “What must be available for the next 24 hours?”
This may include:
- a safe place to sleep;
- food and drinking water;
- essential medication or medical supplies;
- heat, electricity, or running water;
- clothing appropriate for the conditions;
- access to a phone or the internet;
- transportation;
- identification or essential documents;
- care for a child, dependant, or animal;
- or another immediate necessity.
Choose one need that cannot safely wait.
You can return to the others.
If Food Is the Immediate Need
Consider what is available for today and tomorrow.
Possible first steps include:
- checking what food and funds are currently available;
- contacting a food bank, community meal program, school, shelter, faith community, or neighbourhood organization;
- asking someone trusted for food, transportation, or help making a call;
- asking a community information service what food assistance exists nearby;
- telling a healthcare or social-service provider if lack of food is affecting health or medication;
- or identifying whether benefits, emergency assistance, or delivery support may be available.
You do not need to wait until there is no food left before asking what help exists.
In Canada, 211 can help identify nearby food banks, meal programs, emergency benefits, and other community services.
If Utilities May Be Disconnected
If heat, electricity, water, phone, or another necessary service is at risk:
- identify the exact service affected;
- find the disconnection date or deadline;
- confirm the amount required and how it was calculated;
- contact the provider before the deadline where possible;
- ask whether extensions, payment arrangements, emergency protections, or assistance programs exist;
- request confirmation of any arrangement in writing;
- and keep the names, dates, reference numbers, and instructions from each conversation.
Tell the provider if the loss of service could endanger someone because of illness, disability, age, medical equipment, or severe weather.
A community agency may also know about emergency utility assistance available where you live.
If Transportation or Communication Is the Barrier
Sometimes help exists but cannot be reached without a phone, internet access, transportation, identification, or childcare.
Consider whether you could use:
- a library or community centre;
- a community phone or public internet connection;
- transportation provided by a medical or social-service program;
- a school, shelter, outreach service, or faith community;
- a trusted person’s phone, address, printer, or transportation;
- or an advocate who can contact a service with you.
The obstacle preventing access may need attention before the larger problem can be addressed.
Before Making a Rushed Financial Decision
Urgency can make costly offers appear like the only option.
Before signing an agreement, surrendering property, borrowing at a high cost, or giving someone access to your bank account:
- identify the full amount you will repay;
- check the fees, interest, due dates, and penalties;
- ask what happens if a payment is missed;
- take time to read what you are agreeing to;
- and consider whether a reputable community service or qualified adviser can help you examine alternatives.
High-cost short-term loans can deepen financial pressure.
Where possible, first ask providers about additional time, payment arrangements, emergency benefits, or less costly options.
The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada provides guidance about payday loans and alternatives.
Finding Practical Support
Available assistance depends on where you live and may include:
- food banks and meal programs;
- emergency shelters and safe housing;
- rent or utility assistance;
- income or disability benefits;
- medication coverage;
- transportation assistance;
- tenant advocacy;
- legal clinics;
- Indigenous, cultural, newcomer, or community organizations;
- and services for children, families, older adults, or people with disabilities.
In Canada, 211 can connect people with government and community-based food, housing, healthcare, employment, and other social services. It is free and confidential in most of Canada.
If you live elsewhere, search for a local community-information service, social-service directory, municipal assistance line, or qualified community organization.
This Pressure Is Not Only Inside You
Fear, exhaustion, anger, shame, confusion, or difficulty concentrating may be responses to material insecurity.
Understanding and regulating those responses may help you use the capacity available to you.
They do not replace food, housing, medication, income, protection, or practical assistance.
Some distress requires support.
Some requires advocacy.
Some requires a change in the conditions themselves.
Needing those things is not a personal failure.