Funding Resources

Below you will find some additional resources that include information on travel funding for your little one, and other organizations that may be able to provide funding or services that aid in your child’s recovery.

Other Funding Resources:

BC Family Residence Program Accommodations:

The BC Family Residence Program (BCFRP) is administered by Variety – The Children’s Charity of British Columbia, and provides subsidized accommodation for families whose child, including premature babies and newborns with other health concerns, is receiving care at BC Children’s Hospital or Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children in Vancouver. Accommodation assistance is available for one room for up to 30 days per stay. Arrangements are made through Variety for accommodation in a subsidized family residence, such as Ronald McDonald House, Easter Seals House or other locations approved by the program.

Program Details

The program provides accommodation subsidies for families with a child, aged 18 years and under, who requires medical care at BC Children’s Hospital or Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children, including premature babies and newborns with other health concerns. Accommodation is arranged at convenient locations in the Vancouver area so that a family is able to stay close by while their child is receiving medical care. The program provides accommodation assistance to a family for one room for up to 30 days per stay. To qualify for assistance with accommodation costs, families must:
  • Be residents of B.C. and have medical insurance coverage under the Medical Services Plan of BC, and
  • Gave a child who is receiving medical care at BC Children’s Hospital or Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children, including premature babies and newborns with other health concerns, and
  • Live outside *Metro Vancouver
*Families living in communities outside Metro Vancouver are eligible for accommodation assistance through the program. Families living within the following communities which comprise Metro Vancouver are not eligible for accommodation assistance: Anmore, Belcarra, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Delta, Langley, Lions Bay, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Richmond, Surrey, Vancouver, White Rock, West Vancouver and Electoral Area A. Note: Residents of Bowen Island and island communities within Electoral Area A are eligible for the Accommodation subsidy due to the requirement of ferry travel. Reference should be made to the Metro Vancouver web site to determine if you reside within these boundaries. Families may contact Variety – The Children’s Charity directly to apply for assistance through this program. Confirmation of the dates of medical treatment or duration of visit at BC Children’s Hospital or Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children is required from the child’s attending physician, BC Children’s Hospital or Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children. This can be obtained via email, fax or written note and will be confirmed by Variety – The Children’s Charity upon application to the program. Physician offices and hospital personnel are encouraged to contact Variety – The Children’s Charity on behalf of their patients to confirm eligibility for benefits.

To apply for accommodation assistance call toll free at: 1 866-496-6946

Travel Funding

The Province has extended transportation assistance to patients travelling to Vancouver and elsewhere in B.C. and Canada, to obtain specialized medical care. The BC Family Residence Program travel providers include Hope Air and Shriners of BC and the Yukon. Hope Air is a well known national charity that arranges free flights for patients of all ages who cannot afford to fly to receive the medical care they require. They have also launched a new program with Air BnB to provide accommodation during your stay. To qualify for assistance through Hope Air patients must:
  • Be residents of B.C. and have medical insurance coverage under the Medical Services Plan of BC;
  • Be accessing medical care (reason for travel) for an insured service of MSP;
  • Meet Hope Air’s eligibility criteria; and
  • Be able to travel on regular commercial flights without requiring special assistance beyond what is normally provided by most airlines.
“Hope Rides”  Using the Uber platform for airport car transportation, Hope Rides will enable patients to arrange for convenient free or discounted car transportation from the airport to hospital. Hope Rides through Uber airport service will be available in the arrival city only, available cities include Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, Halifax and St. John’s. Hope Air patients will receive Uber vouchers that, together with the Uber App, can be used for the scheduling and ordering of car transportation service from and to the airport. “Hope Meals”  Hope Air patients travelling to Vancouver and Toronto and staying overnight as part of their medical care will be eligible for subsidized meal and dining programs. The Hope Air Meals program will be delivered through key hotel partnerships including The Holiday Inn – Vancouver Centre, and Century Plaza Hotel in Vancouver, and the Chelsea Hotel in Toronto. Additional hotel partners will be announced as available. The Hope Meals program is a pilot initiative that will be tested in the cities of Vancouver and Toronto. Expansion of the Hope Air meals program to other Canadian cities will be determined following completion of the pilot.

To apply contact Hope Air at: Toll free 1 877-346-HOPE (4673) or www.hopeair.org

Parking:

BC Women’s & Children’s Hospital – 4500 Oak St., Vancouver Free parking: anywhere on Heather St between 33rd Ave and 37th Ave. There’s an overflow parking lot located on Heather and 37th where you can catch the hospital shuttle to BC Women’s. It comes every 15 minutes and 0nly takes 2 minutes to get you to the hospital. http://www.cw.bc.ca/library/pdf/pamphlets/BCCH1418b_WhereCanIFindParking_2011.pdf

Additional Resources:

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Grant Applications

If you know of a child in need of care, please fill out a Grant Application form. We review every application carefully and provide each family with a response within 4-10 weeks for regular applications and very quickly for emergent situations. Apply Now