Know of other resources the support families during this challenging time? Please email community@snplace.org to get them added to this list.
COVID-19 Information Line & Screening Clinics
The Public Health Agency of Canada has set up a novel coronavirus information line at: 1-833-784-4397
Island Health has opened a referral-only COVID-19 screening clinic in Victoria. Testing at this clinic will occur by appointment for people who have been referred by their primary care provider or an 8-1-1 nurse
Visit https://www.islandhealth.ca/news/news-releases/island-health-covid-19-referral-only-screening-clinic-victoria for more info
BC Hydro – Defer Bill Payments
The COVID-19 Customer Assistance Program provides customers the option to defer bill payments or arrange for flexible payment plans with no penalty. Customers are encouraged to call BC Hydro’s customer team at 1 800 BCHYDRO (1 800 224 9376) to discuss bill payment options.
Customers facing temporary financial hardship and possible disconnection of their service due to job loss, illness, or loss of a family member may also be eligible for BC Hydro’s Customer Crisis Fund, which provides access to grants of up to $600 to pay their bills
Visit https://www.bchydro.com/news/press_centre/news_releases/2020/bill-relief-covid-19.html for more info
EI Sickness Benefits
Service Canada is ready to support Canadians affected by COVID-19 and placed in quarantine, with the following support actions:
- The one-week waiting period for EI sickness benefits will be waived for new claimants who are quarantined so they can be paid for the first week of their claim.
- Establishing a new dedicated toll-free phone number to support enquiries related to waiving the EI sickness benefits waiting period.
- Priority EI application processing for EI sickness claims for clients under quarantine.
Contact the new dedicated toll-free phone number if you are in quarantine and seeking to waive the one-week EI sickness benefits waiting period so you can be paid for the first week of your claim:
- Telephone: 1-833-381-2725 (toll-free)
- Teletypewriter (TTY): 1-800-529-3742
Visit https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/corporate/notices/coronavirus.html for more info
Telus
How TELUS is helping our customers stay connected during this time: We will continue to include CBC News Network in our Optik Essentials pack helping you stay connected to the latest news and information. We are also currently offering a great mix of family and educational content FREE channel previews on Optik.
Until the end of April the following changes will apply:
- Waiving home internet overage charges for customers who are not on unlimited data plans
- Waiving all Easy Roam® and pay-per-use roaming charges for postpaid Mobility customers that are stranded anywhere outside of North America, the Caribbean, and Central America and who are unable to return to Canada.
Additionally, we’ll support our customers facing financial challenges because of COVID-19 by providing them with flexible payment options. We don’t want anyone to worry about not being able to pay their bill on time if they have been financially affected by the crisis.
Visit https://www.telus.com/en/about/covid-19-updates?linktype=notification_bar for more info
Babylon by TELUS Health
Access healthcare from your home
Babylon by TELUS Health is a free app that allows you to receive virtual healthcare from your phone, without leaving the house.
Leveraging the power of technology, residents in BC and Alberta can now video chat directly with a licensed doctor from their phones. Across the rest of the country, Canadians are able to download the app and use the Symptom Checker, which utilizes AI to analyze symptoms and suggest courses of action, including COVID-19.
Its use can help relieve the current stresses on our healthcare system while reducing your risk of catching or spreading illnesses.
Download Babylon by TELUS Health: Google Play & Apple Store
Visit https://www.telus.com/en/about/covid-19-updates?linktype=notification_bar for more info
Vancouver Island Crisis Line
1‑888-494-3888
Text: 250-800-3806 from your mobile.
Available from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Pacific Time, seven days a week
Visit https://www.vicrisis.ca/ for more info
Food & Meals
Rainbow Kitchen
500 Admirals Rd
250-384-2069
Meals are M-F first come, first serve. Christmas meal Dec 25.
Bread and produce based on availability
Our Place
919 Pandora Ave
250-388-7112
Breakfast: 7-8am Lunch: 12-1pm
Dinner: 5-6pm. 7 days a week
Stat holiday meals vary
Mustard Seed
625 Queens Ave
250-953-1575
Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30am-12:30pm
Coffee & afternoon programs.
Street Cafe: Fri 6:30pm call to reserve.
Agape Dinner: Sat 5pm, no reservation.
Family Dinner 2nd & 3rd Sun of each month. Call to confirm attendance 250-220-6992
Anawim House
973 Caledonia Ave
250-382-0283
Breakfast: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat 10am
Lunch: Mon,Tue,Thu,Fri, Sign-up 10-11am.
Dinner: Wed & Fri, sign up by 2pm.
For people abstinent from substances.
Food Not Bombs
950 Kings Rd
Centennial Square, Sun 4pm
Vegan, home cooked meal
Rock Bay Landing 535 Ellice St
250-383-1951
Sat & Mon 3:30pm tickets for non-residents. 50 tickets only
Salvation Army ARC
525 Johnson St
250-384-3396
Lunch: Mon Wed Fri: 11:45-12:30pm
Coffee and Donuts: Tues 10:30am
The Soup Kitchen
St Andrew’s, 740 View St
778-440-7687
Breakfast: Mon-Fri 8:30-10am. Open all stats except Christmas Day.
Sandy Merriman
809 Burdett Ave
250-480-1408
Lunch: Drop In Program/7 Days, 11:30-2pm. For women at risk/
experiencing homelessness, including trans women, gender fluid & non-binary people
Peers
1-744 Fairview Rd, Esquimalt
250-382-3213
Lunch: For current and former sex workers only, Mon-Thur 12:30pm
Saturday Street Breakfast:
1st Sat: Our Place 919 Pandora 8:30am
2nd Sat: St Andrew’s Kirk Hall, 680 Courtenay St 8:15am
3rd Sat: Glad Tidings, 1800 Quadra St, 250-384-7633 8:30-10:30am
4th Sat: Our Place, 919 Pandora 8:30am
5th Sat: Our Place, 919 Pandora 8:15am
St Vincent De Paul
833 Yates St
250-382-0712
Mon-Fri 10-3:30pm. Closed from 12:30pm-1pm.
Salvation Army Stan Hagen Centre
2695 Quadra St
250-386-8521
Mon-Fri 9-11:45am & 1-4:15pm. Emergency hamper 3x per year
Mustard Seed
625 Queens Ave
250-953-1588
Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Everyone welcome. ID required. Walk-in or by appointment.
Note: Every 1st and 2nd Friday of the month is by appointment only and is from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. Book appointments 1 to 2 days ahead.
Living Edge
Fresh Food Distribution:
250-383-8915
First Baptist Church – 877 North Park St
Wednesdays 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Quadra Village Community Center – 901 Kings Road
Thursdays 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (arrive early)
Central Baptist Church *NEW* – 833 Pandora Ave
Mondays 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Corner of Goldstream Ave & Veteran’s Memorial – 898 Royal Oak Ave
Fridays 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Gateway Baptist Church – 898 Royal Oak Ave
Tuesdays 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saanich Baptist Church – 7577 Wallace Drive
Thursdays 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Esquimalt Neighbourhood House *NEW* – 511 Constance Avenue
Saturdays 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Visit https://victoriahomelessness.ca/get-help/resources/meals-food-banks/#toggle-id-1-closed for more info
