The Financial Assistance for Families of Homicide Victims (FAFHV) program recognizes that while no amount of money can make up for the emotional shock and grief caused by the loss of a loved one through homicide, financial assistance may be part of helping families recover from that loss

How will FAFHV help families of homicide victims?

This program helps eligible parents and spouses of homicide victims by providing up to $10,000 per homicide.

"Homicide" includes first and second degree murder and manslaughter.

Am I eligible for FAFHV?

You may be eligible for FAFHV if:

• The homicide occurred from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2011.
• You were the victim’s parent or spouse at the time of death.
• The homicide occurred in Ontario.
• You reside in Ontario.
• The victim did not contribute to his or her death through criminal activity or other behaviour that could reasonably have been expected to lead to the homicide.
• You do not have a conviction or any pending charges against you related to the homicide, and you were not found to have contributed to the homicide.
• You, or another applicant, applied to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, and did not receive an award for mental or nervous shock, or if one was received, it was less than $10,000.

A parent may be either biological or adoptive, but if the victim was adopted, a biological parent is not eligible unless married to the adoptive parent.  A maximum of two parents for each homicide are eligible to receive financial assistance. 

If you are applying as a spouse, you must have been married or in a common law relationship with the victim at the time of the homicide.  Only one spouse for each homicide is eligible to receive financial assistance.

When must I apply?

If the homicide occurred from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2010, you must apply no later than February 29, 2012.

If the homicide occurred on or after January 1, 2011, you must apply no later than August 31, 2012.

How do I apply?

If you have read the above requirements and believe that you qualify for financial assistance through FAFHV, please review the application guide and complete the application form.

For more information, please review the FAQs or contact us by calling toll free at 1-855-467-4344, or 416-212-9164 if in the Greater Toronto Area.

Send the original signed application form, along with copies of other documents listed in the form to:

Financial Assistance for Families of Homicide Victims Program
18 King Street East, 7th floor
Toronto, ON  M5C 1C4

How is the FAFHV program different from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board?

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Board may compensate families of homicide victims for funeral and bereavement counselling expenses, and dependents for loss of financial support. However, because of rules established in the Compensation for Victims of Crime Act and precedents set by the courts, it may compensate them for pain and suffering only if it can be shown they suffered an injury defined in law as "mental or nervous shock." This requires an individual to demonstrate that, as the result of witnessing or arriving on the scene of a crime involving a loved one, he or she experienced a significant psychological shock requiring significant treatment.

However, often the distress experienced by those who have lost a loved one due to violent crime does not meet this specific definition of mental or nervous shock.

FAFHV addresses this gap by helping those who suffer grief and sorrow.

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE PROGRAM

Telephone: Call toll free at 1-855-467-4344, or 416-212-9164 if in the Greater Toronto Area.