Other ways to support

Time

Limited specialized expertise needed, e.g., minimally onboarded volunteers could do this work.

Expertise

Few/no partnerships with other organizations required.

Partnerships

Often benefits application processes lead to applicants having to travel to multiple locations to apply successfully (e.g., going to Service Canada to get documents or to visit a doctor to fill out forms).  The costs associated with travel can be prohibitive. Your organization can help by providing supports like bus tickets or offering to drive clients to various appointments.

- In some small communities where public transit is limited or not available, Uber is being subsidized to provide transportation services
- The PATH program in Edmonton distributes free monthly transit passes to vulnerable Edmontonians through community agencies, enabling the mobility of residents who might not otherwise be able to afford transportation.
- Here is a list of examples of discounted transit programs
  - [Uber](https://www.uber.com/ca/en/transit/)
  - [Uber and Lyft](https://mobilitylab.org/research/ridesharing/uber-lyft-starting-to-replace-transit-in-small-towns-motherboard/)
  - [Toronto](https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/employment-social-support/support-for-people-in-financial-need/assistance-through-ontario-works/transit-discount/#:~:text=The%20Fair%20Pass%20Transit%20Discount%20Program%20is%20a,per%20cent%20discount%20on%20TTC%20adult%20monthly%20passes.)
  - [Hamilton](https://www.hamilton.ca/people-programs/financial-stability-supports/support-programs/affordable-transit-pass-program)
  - [York Region](https://www.yrt.ca/en/fares-and-passes/tap-transit-assistance-program.aspx)
  - [Mississauga](https://www.mississauga.ca/miway-transit/fares/affordable-transit-program/)
  - [Brampton](https://www.brampton.ca/en/residents/transit/fares/pages/affordabletransitprogram.aspx)
  - [Winnipeg](https://info.winnipegtransit.com/en/fares/winnpass)
  - [Halifax](https://www.halifax.ca/transportation/halifax-transit/transit-programs-services/low-income-transit-pass-program)
  - [Calgary](https://www.calgarytransit.com/content/transit/en/home/fares---passes/passes/low-income-monthly-pass.html)
  - [Saskatoon](https://transit.saskatoon.ca/fares-passes/low-income-bus-pass-programs)

Examples

- Decide whether providing direct transportation or providing other supports like bus fare will better meet the needs of your community and the capabilities of your organization.
- If available in your community, you can promote subsidized transit to community members who are eligible. This can be done via posters or when meeting with clients one-on-one.
- If transportation service is not currently available in your community, consider seeking financial support/funding to cover transportation costs of community members that require this assistance (to cover cost of bus tokens etc.)
- Create communication and promotional materials to promote this service to your community (flyers, via social media etc.)

Getting started

Step 2: Applying for benefits

You should be prepared with the following:

- __Staff time__ — You will require staff time to research, write proposals and secure funding to provide this service to community members. You will also require staff time to administer the program.
- __Funding__  — This kind of service will require funding to cover the cost of transportation, or for the staff time to coordinate volunteers if using that as a method of providing transportation.
- __Technology__ — An accounting system and/or process will be required to keep track of usership/budget
- __Promotion__ — Due to the potentially expensive nature of this kind of program, you may have limits on the number of people you can support through this service. You will have to decide if you will be promoting this service to already existing clients or promoting more externally. If externally you will need to create materials for marketing and communication. You will also need to decide who will be able to access the service.
- __Legal implications__ — Establish safety protocols if staff or volunteers are transporting clients, including what happens in case of an accident. You may need additional insurance or waivers signed by users.

Minimum requirements

- Consider conducting a needs analysis first to determine the level of need for this service and best approach for providing transportation (i.e. funding cost of fare or volunteer drivers).
- You could investigate available support from foundations or corporations to help fund this initiative.
- Seek new and innovate ways to get people assistance with transit that could work in your community, such as the Uber example in the Examples of this work section. There may be other ways to deliver this support unique to your region.
- Create a pool of volunteer drivers to assist community members who require transportation assistance to get to important appointments.
- Connect with your local transit system to explore a potential partnership or collaboration. Some transit systems distribute free passes and bus tickets through trusted community agencies.
- Advocate for greater access to public transit for individuals living on a low income.

Other things to consider

Logistics

Assist with transportation support

1-3 loose partnerships with other organizations required.

Filing taxes is a critical gateway to accessing many government benefits. Some benefits are applied for when filing (such as the GST/HST Credit), while others require you to have filed your taxes and then fill out an application. (e.g., the Canada Child Benefit).

Supporting people in filing taxes is an important way to help them access benefits and tax credits. Hosting a Community Volunteer Income Tax Clinic (CVITP) is a great way for your organization to help, or you can provide other 1-on-1 tax filing help. If you already host a clinic or are not interested in hosting a clinic at your organization, there are other ways you can support people. This could include referrals to clinics in your area, partnering with others that provide this service, or offering other tax services such as tax preparation workshops/clinics, or supporting self-filing.

If you do decide to host your own clinic, go to [Hosting a tax clinic](/resource/hosting-a-tax-clinic) for more information.

[Community Financial Counselling Services (CFCS)](https://www.cfcs.mb.ca/) has been offering tax filing support for over 45 years. They have developed the expertise to meet the complex and often unique needs of individuals and families in Manitoba who are experiencing financial challenges. They also build capacity through collaborative partnerships with other organizations, and advocate for accessible, affordable, and appropriate financial services for all Manitobans.

[AFOA Canada](https://afoa.ca/education/financial-wellness/national-tax-clinic/) and AFOA Canada members support the Indigenous community by delivering a virtual tax clinic through Canada Revenue Agency’s (CRA) online platform.

Examples of the work

If you are referring clients to tax clinics or partnering with other organizations that offer this service, you do not need a lot of resources. However, there are things you can do to support people to file their taxes.

- You may consider hosting a [group information session](https://a2b.benefitswayfinder.org/resource/provide-group-information-sessions) on the benefits to filing taxes to drum up interest and help community members get prepared to file and learn where to go to get support in the community.
- Embed tax filing preparation or assistance into other programs or services such as settlement or financial coaching.
- Provide supported virtual tax filing to remote communities or those who may find it difficult to come in person (provided they have reliable Internet access). There is free tax software available through both [commercial and government programs](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/e-services/e-services-individuals/netfile-overview/certified-software-netfile-program.html)
- Look for, or develop assisted tax filing programs in your area, such as what is offered by the [Toronto Public Library](https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/financialempowerment/).
- Consider organizing a [virtual self-filing program](https://prospercanada.org/Our-Work/Financial-Empowerment-Champions/Virtual-self-file.aspx) to support people when filing their own taxes. We have a [Guide to Virtual Self-file](https://learninghub.prospercanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Feb26_P1_Guide-to-Virtual-Self-file-model.pdf) to help you get started.
- Deliver workshops for the public on tax preparation, tax documents, and tax software
- Deliver workshops for other local organizations on tax filing and financial literacy.

Step 4: Maintaining benefits

You will require the following resources:

- __Funding__ — Funding is not required to refer clients or partner with organizations who offer tax clinics; however, some communities partner and share funding and resources to help ensure the service can be provided each year. Funding may be required to host workshops or support self-filing.
- __Staff resources__ — Staff can research common documentation needed for tax filing, provide clients with tax preparation services (gathering appropriate documentation), and create a list of local tax clinic to refer clients to. You may want to designate a staff member to be responsible for facilitating the partnership with another organization that hosts a clinic.
- __Training/ Software__ — It will take time and access to software to prepare staff to support tax filing in the community. Even when providing non-CVITP related tax filing supports, general tax software knowledge is key.
- __Promotion__ — To inform clients about the importance of filing taxes and where to go to get support will require knowledge of the benefits to filing taxes and information on where to refer clients to access a tax clinic. Providing [group information sessions](/resource/provide-group-information-sessions) may be a good way to generate interest in filing taxes and accessing benefits.

In some cases, it makes more sense to partner with a local organization that already provides tax filing services, or that has more capacity to establish a tax filing program. If you decide to partner your role may include:

- Promote the tax clinic (CVITP or not) to your clients, and/or through your marketing channels (newsletter, social media, website, committees etc.); start promoting early in January if possible
- Provide information on eligibility for the tax clinic; it should be included in all marketing materials
- Train your staff to know how to screen clients for eligibility, and how to refer clients to the clinics.
- Support the clinic financially or with equipment such as laptops, as funding for tax clinics is limited.

Tax filing

Support with filing taxes

If someone has a low digital literacy, it can be tough to complete online benefits applications, use online portals such as MyCRA, and find relevant information about benefits updates or eligibility.  Even without specific benefit knowledge, a staff member helping clients navigate these online platforms can be a big help in applying for benefits.

Get practical tools, methods, and advice. Learn from other organizations who are already providing access to benefits services by accessing this collection of their best practices.

Best practices

- Libraries are a common place where this kind of support is available as they provide internet access and have librarians on-hand to support and answer customer questions.
- The Toronto Public Library offers [technical help](https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/seniorstechhelp/#:~:text=Seniors%20Tech%20Help%20service%20is%20no%20longer%20offered,such%20as%20LinkedIn%20Learning%20and%20more%20More%20items) and a [Book a Librarian](https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/book-a-librarian/) service.

- Designate technology and an accessible space within your organization for staff and community members to access. You may want to have a designated staff person available to assist community members who require online support.
- Create instructions or handouts on how to use the technology in plain language - and multiple languages if possible.
- Integrate online navigation assistance into already existing meetings. You can ask in a pre-assessment survey if clients need this kind of support.

Help fill out benefits applications

Provide ID attestation and verification

Provide access to communications tools (computers etc.)

Allow use of mailing address

Fill out applications for documentation

Offer safe document storage

Help with navigating online resources

Cover cost of document fees

Offering online support may be a simple way for your organization to provide access to benefits support and it is easy to provide along with settlement or employment supports.

You should be prepared with the following:

- __Physical space__ — An accessible space for community members to use the computer with the assistance of a staff member. It is important to have a private area, such as an office area, to help clients feel at ease asking questions and sharing personal information.
- __Staff time__ — Staff will require time to sit with clients and help them navigate the online forms. Clients may require assistance understanding the terminology, using the computer, or need moral support.
- __Technology__ — Up-to-date technology is required as many government forms require up-to-date versions of software such as Adobe Acrobat.

- Consider offering courses or workshops for clients to learn how to navigate benefit applications online. You can also offer workshops on how to use the Benefit Wayfinder and demonstrate how it works. Consider providing a printed booklet on how the [Benefits wayfinder](https://benefitswayfinder.org/ works during these in-person sessions. This kind of workshop contributes positively to a person’s financial empowerment.
- Provide digital training for staff so they can help clients with online navigation.

Help with navigating online resources

Other supports that might interest you

Crtitical supports you can provide throughout your client's entire journey

Best practices