Reminder – the next application deadline is 11:59pm on Sunday, August 15, 2021
Fund Management & Confidentiality
This Fund is run by a Committee of volunteers who have developed processes to ensure that the Fund is managed in a fair, equitable way that effectively utilizes the money in the Fund to support the members hardest hit by the pandemic. The application processes have been set up to maintain confidentiality and to strictly limit access to applicant information. All applications will be submitted to the Committee’s confidential email (1858hardship@gmail.com) which, currently, will only be accessed by the Committee Chair, Deborah Hopper.
COVID Hardship Fund Applications-2021 – Fillable
Eligibility
Any member in good standing who lost casual, temporary or regular “CUPE” hours at VIU due to the pandemic is eligible to apply. To be considered a member in good standing, you have to have been a dues paying member at the time of your loss of hours, with no outstanding assessments from the Local, and your last date working “CUPE” hours at VIU (if you lost all your hours) has to have been less than 18 months prior to the application deadline.
Fund Maximums
The COVID Hardship Fund is limited, so it is requested that members only apply if they are in significant financial need. The Committee will determine whether applications are approved or denied. The Committee will also then determine the amount of support approved applications will receive. Members who have lost less than 0.5 FTE of hours may be granted up to $300 in assistance; members who have 0.5 FTE of hours or more may be granted up to $500 in assistance.
If an applicant’s financial circumstances change, they can request a reassessment by the Committee.
Deadlines
The initial application deadline is 11:59pm on Monday, March 15, 2021. All applications will be submitted through the Committee’s email – 1858hardship@gmail.com
The applications will be assessed and applicants will be notified of the results and, if applicable, issued a cheque by the end of the month. The Committee will continue to accept applications until the pandemic ends or the Fund is depleted, whichever comes first. Subsequent application deadlines will be the 15th of each month.
Supporting the Fund
The initial influx of money for the fund came through votes by the Local’s membership to utilize some of the strike hardship funds and to redirect some unused budget lines from 2020. As noted, these funds are limited.
Some members who have not lost hours during the pandemic have asked how they can contribute to the CUPE 1858 COVID Hardship Fund. There are a couple of options for this that are in the works:
- Personal cheques made out to CUPE Local 1858 with “Hardship Fund” in the memo line may be mailed to PO Box 39038, Nanaimo, BC V9R 7B7
- The Committee is working with the Executive to set up a GoFundMe page for direct contributions to the Fund. More information about this will be sent out shortly.
- Members interested in spearheading fundraising activities for the Fund should connect with the Local’s Executive.
Request
The Committee is only able to do so much to spread the word about the CUPE 1858 COVID Hardship Fund. So, if you know a member who was financial impacted by the loss of hours at VIU, who may not be checking their VIU email regularly, please forward this information to them. It will also be posted on the Local’s website and social media. Remember – applications are strictly confidential and the initial application deadline is Monday, March 15.
We hope this email finds you and yours well. Any questions about the Fund or the application process should be directed to the Committee’s email which is checked weekly by the Chair. Be safe and take care of each other!
In solidarity,
CUPE 1858 COVID Hardship Fund Committee