I’m a crime victim. Can I get money for expenses related to the crime?
The Victim Quick Response Program+ (VQRP+) is an Ontario government program that may pay for certain expenses if you're the victim of a crime. This includes the cost of:
- a funeral
- cleaning up the crime scene
- emergency expenses for home and personal safety, like replacing broken windows or locks, and adding dead bolts or window alarms
- getting counselling or traditional Indigenous healing that gives immediate, short-term support, and travel costs to get there
The rules about who can qualify for help are very strict. For example, you must first report the crime to the police or to a community victim support agency within a certain time. And, in most cases, you must show that:
- you have no money or insurance to pay for the expenses, and
- there are no publicly funded programs that can meet your needs.
There is more support available but different rules apply if:
- you suffered a serious injury because of the crime
- you are the immediate family member of a homicide victim
- you are a victim of human trafficking
The VQRP+ decides if you qualify and how much money you get. You won't have a court or tribunal .
Timelines
The deadlines to apply to the VQRP+ are usually:
- 45 days from the date of the crime to help pay for your immediate needs, such as cleaning up the crime scene or adding emergency safety features to your home
- 6 months from the date of the crime to help to pay for any short-term counselling or traditional Indigenous health services
- one year from the date of the crime to help pay for expenses related to a serious injury, or as an immediate family member of a homicide victim, or as a victim of human trafficking
The rules for children are different.
The VQRP+ is administered by different agencies across the province. So the details about how the program works and the application process could also be different depending on the agency you use to apply.
Get help
For more information or to apply to the VQRP+, contact your local VQRP+ service delivery organization. Or you can call the Victim Support Line at 1-888-579-2888 or 416-314-2447.
