Purpose of the Fund

The purpose of the Emergency Survivor Fund (ESF) is to provide prompt financial support for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. The ESF is designed to help survivors in need of emergency support including safety, mental health, and basic needs. Applications are encouraged from any Brock community member who is a survivor of gender based violence or sexual violence, and in need of emergency support.  

Application Review Process

The Gender and Sexual Violence Funding Allocation Committee (GSVFAC) was established to accept, review, and approve funding applications for the ESF. The GSVFAC is a diverse group of university stakeholders who use an intersectional, anti-oppressive, trauma-informed, and harm-reduction approach to review funding submissions for the ESF.   

Applications for the ESF are anonymized before consideration by the GSVFAC, apart from applicants’ stakeholder status at the institution (i.e., undergraduate, graduate, staff, or faculty). Only the Human Rights and Equity Office’s Executive Assistant, the Director of HREO or a delegate, and a Brock Finance staff member will have access to personal identifiers of applicants. HREO administrative staff, or another delegate of the director of HREO, will anonymize applications. Personal identifiers will be excluded from annual reports. 

Eligible or Ineligible Expenses

There is no predetermined list of eligible or ineligible expenses for reimbursement through this Emergency Survivor Fund. Rather, the fund is purposefully designed to make funding accessible for survivors that may mitigate harm and/or meet any of their emergency practical and material needs.    

Examples of eligible expenses include:   

• Rent (1 month maximum)   
• Emergency Child Care  
• Emergency relocation including moving fees, emergency housing, etc.  
• Transportation costs 
• Phone and Internet Bills  
• Medical services and medications  
• Groceries  

 This list is not exhaustive. Applicants are encouraged to submit claims and/or requests for any expenses they consider eligible. Expenses must be incurred in the funding year (April 1 to March 31) to be  eligible. 

The ESF is allocated $10,000 per funding year (April 1 to March 31). There is a one-time annual funding cap of $1500 per application and a lifetime cap of $4500.   

Submit an Application

Submissions should include the following:  

1. A completed online Emergency Survivor Fund Form  
2. Any supporting documentation including receipts, invoices, or expected expenses.  

Applications are assessed on an as-needed basis, usually within 7 days of receipt. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to humanrights@brocku.ca.