Frequently asked questions

LAFU recognizes 4 main categories of eligible expenses: 

• Expenses related to transportation necessary to leave a dangerous environment quickly, go to a safe place, or obtain medical care related to the violence suffered.
• Expenses related to food, including restaurants and groceries.
• Shelter expenses. Note that temporary hotel accommodations are possible only under certain conditions.
• Other expenses related to the emergency situation, such as purchase of clothing, personal care items and medication.

Interpreter fees can be assumed thanks to agreements with interpreter banks who offer services in emergency situations
In development: fees for the transportation, shelter and certain medical care for pets could be assumed by LAFU

The financial assistance is deployed through the Emergency Financial Assistance Line. It depends on close cooperation between a fieldworker and a LAFU caseworker who handles the request.

To initiate the request for assistance, the fieldworker must contact LAFU directly. This fieldworker stays involved until the end of the process to maintain the connection with the victim and LAFU, among other purposes.

Then the LAFU caseworker confirms the eligibility of the fieldworker’s request. If the request meets the criteria, LAFU confirms and authorizes the necessary expenses, and makes the connection with the suppliers.

After LAFU approves the expenses, the resources are made available to assist the victim. 

Finally IVAC and LAFU manage payment of the suppliers. The fieldworker has no follow-up of the invoices to be paid or the forms to be filled in.

The fieldworker is the connection between the victim and LAFU.
He or she is in charge of making the initial request to LAFU.

The fieldworker also ensures continuity with victims until they are no longer considered to be in an emergency situation that puts them at risk.

The fieldworker must cooperate with the LAFU caseworker to establish a safety net for the victim and identify the means to achieve this with the financial assistance.

LAFU makes it easier to establish a safety net for victims. In particular, it offers the possibility of going to a safe place quickly or obtaining emergency medical services related to the violence suffered:

• By working closely with the fieldworkers (police officers, workers in shelter resources, community organizations and the health and social services network)
• By paying emergency expenses.
• By taking charge of logistics functions, in particular, with service providers. 

The emergency expenses are covered by agreements made with the service providers or by prepaid cards sent electronically.

This means that neither the victim nor the fieldworker has to defray the costs and no money is given directly to the victim.

The financial assistance is temporary.
It may last a few days or longer depending on the victim’s needs. Each request is evaluated according to the context.

Only a fieldworker in direct contact with a victim may make a request through the Emergency Financial Assistance Line.

By directly calling the assistance line accessible 24/7, in French and English, at 1-833-363-LAFU (5238)
Before contacting LAFU, make sure the victims meets the following eligibility criteria:

• REGION 
  Is the victim located in one of the regions where LAFU is available? Consult the map below to find out. Ultimately, emergency financial assistance will be available all over Québec. 
  • Laval
  • Montérégie
  • Lanaudière
  • Laurentides
  • Capitale-Nationale
  • Montréal
  • Outaouais
  • Estrie
  • Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean
  • Bas-Saint-Laurent
  • Mauricie
  • Centre-du-Québec
  • Abitibi-Témiscamingue
  • Chaudière-Appalaches
  • Côte-Nord
  • Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine
• VIOLENCE 
  The person is a victim or at risk of domestic or sexual violence (assault, exploitation, harassment, etc.). 
  
  
• EMERGENCY
  The situation inspires a feeling of urgency, justifying that the people must go to a safe place quickly or obtain medical care related to the violence suffered.
   
• RESOURCES
  The victim doesn’t have the means (financial or psychological) to do so. 

Yes, LAFU covers emergency expense so that the victim and the dependents can physically leave a dangerous environment quickly, go to a safe place, or obtain medical care related to the violence suffered.

Yes, a victim without status may benefit from financial assistance if the victim meets the following eligibility criteria:

• Victim of domestic violence or sexual violence;
• Emergency situation justifying that the person physically has to leave a dangerous environment quickly and go to a safe place, or can obtain medical care related to the violence suffered.
• Absence of resources to do so.

By the absence of means, we mean that the victim is not psychologically fit to make decisions (due to a state of shock, for example).

It also refers to the lack of money necessary to cover the various emergency expenses (travel, shelter, food …). No financial proof will be requested. 

Yes, a minor victim can benefit from financial assistance. The assistance could also cover certain expenses for the minor victim’s parents or tutors. 

Important note:

The caseworker who is in contact with the victim and who makes the request for assistance has the legal obligation to report any situation endangering the security or development of a minor to the Direction de la protection de la jeunesse (DPJ). 

Yes, a person visiting Québec and who meets the eligibility criteria may benefit from financial assistance:

• Victim of domestic violence or sexual violence;
• Emergency situation justifying that the person physically leave a dangerous environment quickly, go to a safe place, or obtain medical care related to the violence suffered.
• Absence of resources to do so.

No, at the present time, the financial assistance can only cover expenses for a victim to go to a safe place quickly or obtain medical care related to the violence suffered.

Yes, a victim of psychological violence in a context of domestic violence or at risk of sexual violence may benefit from financial assistance. This person must meet the other eligibility criteria:

• The victim’s situation inspires a feeling of urgency, justifying the need to go to a safe place quickly or obtain emergency services related to the violence suffered.
• Absence of resources to do so.

No, LAFU would not be indicated in situations that would increase the level of danger for the victim.

To benefit from this financial assistance, the victim does not need to make a police complaint, or identify herself, or even apply to IVAC. The victim must deal with a fieldworker who will make the request on her behalf.

Yes, a victim may benefit from financial assistance more than once.

Yes, LAFU is a tool available to fieldworkers to make it easier to ensure the safety of victims of domestic violence or sexual violence. This tool is being deployed gradually throughout Québec’s regions. 

LAFU was set up following recommendations in the “Rebuilding trust” report of the Expert committee on support for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence (Recommendation #12). This recommendation was integrated into An Act to assist persons who are victims of criminal offences and to facilitate their recovery (section 92), which ensures its permanence.

LAFU is not a solution to the problems of capacity of resources. For example, LAFU does not participate in relieving the waiting lists or increasing the number of places available in shelters.

The design and deployment  of the program are being done in collaboration with SOS violence conjugale and Sexual Violence Helpline, a service of the Montréal Sexual Assault Centre. The Direction générale de l’IVAC ensures payment of the service providers. 

Many other partners are also consulted to ensure the program is properly deployed