COVID-19 Supports

Your workplace or your child's school may require you to provide a note stating that it is safe to return to work/school after experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, testing positive, or having been exposed to a confirmed case. Parents and individuals can download and complete a form instead of getting a doctor's note to return to school or work.

Please note that these forms are not suitable for anyone who is a health care worker, is severely immunocompromised, or received care for COVID-19 in a hospital ICU.

• Employment Insurance during COVID-19 information can be found by going to Government of Canada's website.

• People who need short-term funds for things like food, housing and medicine can apply for Ontario Emergency Assistance.

• Current ODSP recipients can apply for discretionary benefits for things like cleaning supplies, transportation, food, etc.

• Employers can apply for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS).

• The City of Hamilton has information for tenants and landlords. Additional details are available for renters and for landlords from the Province of Ontario.   

• The City of Hamilton has a Property Tax Assistance Program for homeowners.

• Visit 211oncovid19.ca for information about government services, help applying for benefits and help getting groceries, medication, etc.

• Visit our Groups and Workshops page to find a list of virtual groups we are running. 

Grocery shopping during COVID-19:

• Sample one-week grocery shopping list.
• Grocer-ease is a community support service that delivers groceries to eligible seniors and adults with disabilities who live within the City of Hamilton. The program is currently at capacity, but you can be added to a wait list by calling 905-545-1175.
• Many grocery stores offer online shopping with delivery or curbside pick-up. Visit your grocery store's website for more information. If you decide to buy your food online, here are some tips:
  • When getting groceries delivered, avoid a direct hand-off by having your items delivered to your doorstep or placed directly into your trunk by store employees.
  • If you want to tip the delivery driver, set it up in advance on the app.
  • Order early! Delivery times are filling up more quickly than usual and availability may be limited.
  • Wash non-porous containers such as plastics and metal before you put them away.
  • Wash your hands, counter, and other surfaces you've touched after you've put away your groceries.
  • Wash produce under running water and gently scrub fruits and veggies with hard skins.

Accessing food during COVID-19:

• Check out the Food Access Guide: Eating Well in the City of Hamilton for a list of local food banks.
• Care-Mongering Hamilton is offering food delivery to people with disabilities or who can't afford groceries. Visit the website to learn how to request food or to volunteer or donate to this cause.
• Consider paying for a meal kit delivery service, where a recipe and all the ingredients needed are packaged and delivered to your house. There are many options available: do an online search to find one that works for you!

Meal planning during COVID-19:

• View our meal-planning tips to make food prep easier and to ensure you continue to eat healthily during COVID-19. 
• View the video Healthy Foods for Immunity for some ideas on foods to add to your diet to stay healthy!
• View the video Nutrition and Hydration Tips: Recovering from COVID-19 at Home to learn more about what to eat when you are sick.
• Check out the Ottawa Public Health website for step-by-step cooking and recipe videos.
• What can I eat at home after being in the Intensive Care Unit with COVID-19?
• What can I eat at home after being in the Hospital with COVID-19?
• COVID-19 and Nutrition: How to stay strong by eating healthy

Managing Diabetes during COVID-19:

• How to stay safe when you have Diabetes and are sick or at risk of dehydration.
• View a recording of a webinar we hosted: What do to during COVID-19 if you have Diabetes.
• View a video by Diabetes Canada titled Ask the Experts: Questions about COVID-19 and Diabetes.

Food safety during COVID-19:

• Grocery shopping and storing your groceries at home: Video by local Registered Dietitian Shannon Crocker.
• Do I need to wash my fruits, vegetables and other groceries? Video by Dr. Jeff Farber, University of Guelph.

Cooking with kids during COVID-19:

• Eat Right Ontario has a list of kid-friendly kitchen tasks broken down by age.
• Visit the Cooking With Kids page on the Dietitians of Canada website to find out more about the benefits of cooking with kids, and get some kid-friendly recipes too!
• Check out a Science in the Kitchen video by Registered Dietitian Michelle Jaelin.

Resources for managing anxiety:

• The FACE COVID tool created by Dr. Russ Harris of The Happiness Trap is a helpful guide in how to respond effectively to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The Coronavirus Anxiety Workbook from The Wellness Society is a printable workbook that encourages users to identify their feelings and provides strategies for managing anxiety and navigating through uncertain times.
• Anxiety Canada has a variety of resources to help people cope with anxiety, and hosts weekly online meetings to address different aspects of anxiety during COVID-19.
• VirusAnxiety.com is a website created by Shine that pulls together articles about anxiety and how to cope with the stress of COVID-19 from various news outlets.

Mindfulness and meditation resources:

• Sangha Sessions are being offered online for free by iRest.

Resources for addictions support:

• In The Rooms offers 130 free weekly online meetings for those recovering from addictions and related issues.
• Alcoholics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous, and Narcotics Anonymous all offer directories for local meetings, many of which are running online during this time.

Resources for emerging adults, youth, and children:

• The Stay Home Kit for Young Caregivers from the Young Caregivers Association is a printable workbook to help young people process their feelings as their daily lives have changed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• My Hero Is You is a downloadable and printable storybook for children about COVID-19. The book is available in many languages.

Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Breastfeeding During Covid-19:

Positive Parenting During Covid-19:

Resources for adolescents and their parents:

Children with special health needs:

• COVID-19 information and resources for families (Autism Speaks)

Back to School during COVID

McMaster Children's Hospital has created a number of videos to help parents and children returning to school during the COVID pandemic:

• Top 5 Infection Prevention Tips for Families
• Tips to Avoid the Cycle of Anxiety
• School Related Anxiety 
• Autism & Returning to School 
• Autism & Wearing a Mask 
• Autism & Handwashing and Sanitizing
• Autism & Physical Distancing
• General Masking Tips
• COVID-19 Risk to Children
• Can Children Spread COVID-19?
• Talking to Children about COVID-19
• Challenging Unhelpful Thoughts
• Role Modelling to Encourage Positive Behaviour
• Advice for Coping with Uncertainty
• Taking Control During Times of Change
• Q&A with Kids
• COVID-19 Test for Children to Watch

• General information about legal issues related to COVID-19 such as family law, employment law, debt and consumer rights, etc. is available from Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO).

• The Ontario Human Rights Commission has published general information about COVID-19 and individuals' human rights and obligations.

• Canadians abroad impacted by COVID-19 can apply for an emergency loan of up to $5,000 to help them return home.

• Didn't find what you're looking for in any of the links above? Try one of the links below for general information on various resources provided by different levels of our government:

• Government of Canada Supports

• Province of Ontario Supports

• City of Hamilton Supports

• You can find information related to COVID-19 cases and treatment on the Public Health Ontario website.