For released members of the Canadian Armed Forces: as a CAF or RCMP veteran, you may be eligible for emergency financial assistance through The Royal Canadian Legion’s Poppy Trust Fund. This money is made available through the generosity of Canadians. If you are a veteran in financial distress, this fund may be able to help.

The assistance could cover essential needs such as shelter, food, fuel, clothing, prescription medicine, medical devices or equipment, or necessary transportation.

To find out if you qualify, contact your local branch service officer or the provincial command office in your area. Visit https://www.legion.ca/contact-us/provincial-commands to find the right contact for your region.

In many cases, the service officer can also co-ordinate assistance with local community agencies and community resources.

For currently serving members of the CAF: the Poppy Trust Fund may also aid an active member of the CAF in need; however, as several options are available through the Canadian Forces community and the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services, the first step is to contact the financial counsellor on base at the local SISIP office.

The counsellor can provide guidance on available programs and assistance options and, if appropriate, they will then contact the provincial command office to access Poppy Trust Funds on your behalf. For more information, visit https://cfmws.ca/insurance-finance/financial-counselling and https://www.supportourtroops.ca/Get-Support/Emergency-financial-assistance.

A provincial command service officer will be able to determine if  you are eligible for other Veterans Affairs Canada support programs.

For veterans who served with allied countries: if you are a  veteran from the United Kingdom or other allied countries, contact a service officer at the Legion’s national headquarters to determine if you may be eligible to apply for financial assistance through various initiatives in the U.K. Find contact details at https://legion.ca/contact-us.