COVID-19 / Coronavirus Resources for Housing Providers

Vaccination Information

The Province of Manitoba has a website with the most up-to-date information on vaccine eligibility and immunization clinics here

As of January 10, eligibility includes health-care workers whose work involves direct contact with patients and who meet at least one of the following criteria:

• work in critical care units (intensive care units only, no age restrictions);
• work in long-term care facilities, born on or before Dec. 31, 1975;
• work in acute care facilities, born on or before Dec. 31, 1975;
• assigned to a COVID-19 immunization clinic or designated COVID-19 testing site (no age restrictions and may include some individuals who do not have direct contact with patients, based on their role);
• work in a laboratory handling COVID-19 specimens (no age restrictions and may include some individuals who do not have direct contact with patients, based on their role);
• work on a designated COVID-19 hospital ward (no age restrictions);
• work in provincial or federal correctional facilities (no age restrictions), and;
• Emergency response services (ERS) and specialty patient transportation workers registered with their applicable college or association in Manitoba, born on or before December 31, 1975. This group includes professionals who perform ERS and patient transportation by land and air such as paramedics, emergency medical responders, nurses and respiratory therapists.
• home care workers born on or before Dec. 31, 1965 (changed from Dec. 31, 1960) who are employed by a regional health authority (RHA), employed by a RHA contracted service providers or employed by a self- and family-managed care program client.

Business Reopening

Posters and Fact Sheets

If you are a housing provider or co-op who is receiving financing or support from CMHC:

• CMHC will work with each of you individually to be able to find the best solution. They have a series of tools and relief measures for housing providers including deferral of loan payment, capitalization, special payment arrangements, advancing flexibilities, and any combination of tools.
• CMHC will ensure that eligible housing providers who have opted-in the Phase 2 of the Federal Community Housing Initiative, and who have federally administered operating agreements expiring in the coming months, continue to receive their current level of financial assistance so that there is no disruption in assistance to households. Additional information will be shared in the coming weeks. Any questions in the interim can be directed to: [email protected].
• On a case-by-case basis, CMHC will consider flexibility for subsidy suspensions for new accounts as a result of a breach in their agreements.

Read CMHC Questions and Answers on their programs and services

Federal Government Resources

The government of Canada’s Economic Response Plan is available here. There is a range of programs available. We have provided details about those more relevant for non-profit housing providers and their staff.

The government has:

• Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS). Canadian businesses, non-profit organizations, or charities who have seen a drop in revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible for a subsidy to cover part of their commercial rent or property expenses, starting on September 27, 2020, until June 2021. This subsidy will provide payments directly to qualifying renters and property owners, without requiring the participation of landlords.
• The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) supports employers that are hardest hit by the pandemic, and protect the jobs Canadians depend on. The subsidy covers 75% of an employee’s wages – up to $847 per week – for employers of all sizes and across all sectors who have suffered a drop in gross revenues of at least 15% in March, and 30% in April and May.
  • On July 27, 2020, Bill C-20, which extends the CEWS into December, passed through Senate.  One big change to the program is that it will now introduce a sliding scale and some eligibility improvements to be more accessible to a broader range of employers.
  • On October 9, 2020, the Government announced it will introduce legislation to extend the CEWS until June, 2021
• The Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) will provide interest-free loans of up to $60,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits, to help cover their operating costs during a period where their revenues have been temporarily reduced. Up to 25% of the loan is non-repayable. Apply through your financial institution. Applications are open up to March 31, 2021.
• Transition from CERB to Employment Insurance (EI):As of September 27, 2020, temporary changes have been made to the EI program to make it easier for individuals who continue to be impacted by COVID-19 to qualify for financial support after the end of CERB. Changes include:
  •  – Only 120 insured hours are needed to qualify because of a one-time insurable hours credit
  •  – Minimum benefit rate of $500 per week before taxes
  •  – If you received CERB, the 52-week period to accumulate insured hours will be extended.
  •  – A medical certificate is not required.
  • If you were receiving CERB though Service Canada you do not need to apply for EI benefits, it is an automatic transition.
• The Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) will provide a taxable benefit of $1,000 every 2 weeks for up to 26 weeks to workers who are not eligible for Employment Insurance and have lost their income due to COVID-19. It is available to workers who meet all of the following conditions:
  •       –  lost employment or self-employment for reasons related to COVID-19 or you had a 50% reduction in average weekly income compared to the previous year due to COVID-19
  •       – did not receive any other benefits or paid leave from your employer for the same period
  •      –  earned at least $5,000 of employment, net self-employment, or maternity/parental benefits in 2019, 2020, or in the 12 previous month
  •       – have not voluntarily quit their job
  •       – had income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or in the 12 months prior to the date of their application.
  •      – are seeking work and have not turned down reasonable work during the two-week period
•  The Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB): Provides income support up to $500 per household for each one-week period for a maximum of 26 weeks to employed and self-employed individuals who are unable to work because they must care for their children under 12 years old or a family member who needs supervised care because of COVID-19. Eligibility criteria includes:
  • • – unable to work at least 50% of your scheduled work week because you are caring for a family member and they are at home for one of the following reasons:
      • – Their school, daycare, or care facility is closed due to COVID-19
      • – The person under your care is sick or has symptoms, is self-isolating or has an underlying health conditions that puts them at greater risk
    •       – did not receive any other benefits or paid leave from your employer for the same period
    •      –  earned at least $5,000 of employment, net self-employment, or maternity/parental benefits in 2019, 2020, or in the 12 previous month
    •      –  you are the only person in the household applying for CRCB for the week
•  The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB): Provides income support up to $500 per for each one-week period for a maximum of 2 weeks to employed and self-employed individuals who are unable to work because they are sick or need to self-isolate due to COVID-19 or have underlying health conditions that put them at greater risk.. Eligibility criteria includes:
  • • • – unable to work at least 50% of your scheduled work week because you are self-isolating for one the following reasons:
        • – You are sick with or may have COVID-19
        • – You have been advised to self-isolate
        • – You have an underlying health conditions that puts you at greater risk. caring for a family member and they are at home for one of the following reasons:
          • – Their school, daycare, or care facility is closed due to COVID-19
          • – The person under your care is sick or has symptoms, is self-isolating or has an underlying health conditions that puts them at greater risk
      •       – did not receive any other benefits or paid leave from your employer for the same period
      •      –  earned at least $5,000 of employment, net self-employment, or maternity/parental benefits in 2019, 2020, or in the 12 previous month

Provincial Government Resources

Resources for Tenants

• Income Supports for Manitobans (EI, EIA, Emergency Care and Emergency Support, Child Tax, MB Hydro, Student Loans; Compiled by Ethnocultural Council of Manitoba)
• Community Resources Available During COVID-19 Pandemic (Compiled by West Central Women’s Resource Centre)
• COVID-19 Resources for Older People in Manitoba (Compiled by the University of Manitoba Centre on Aging)
• Help Next Door MB – Matching Services for Volunteers and Manitobans who need help
• Seniors Resource Finder – Information and Referral Hub (Winnipeg Reginal Health Authority)
• Guide to Benefit Info in plain language (Compiled by Jennifer Robson, Associate Professor of Political Management, Carleton University, using public information)
• Crisis support line (Klinic)
• Mental Health Support – AbilitiCBT– new digital therapy program available to all Manitobans experiencing low to mild symptoms of anxiety due to the pandemic
• Covid 19 Anxiety Support Line(Anxiety Disorders Association of Manitoba) – call 204-925-0040 or email [email protected]
• CMHA (Canadian Mental Health Association) – resources and suggestions to support mental health
• Sara Riel Warm Line –  peer support workers for support and/or suggest possible resources. Call 204-942-9276 between 7pm – 11pm