Victim Quick Response Program (VQRP)  Sponsored by the Ministry of the Attorney General

A time limited program to provide immediate financial assistance that cannot be obtained through other sources to victims of serious and/or violent crimes.

What is VQRP

Victims of violent crime need effective and compassionate support in the immediate aftermath of a crime. That is why the government is establishing the Victim Quick Response Program (VQRP). This new service responds to the most urgent needs of victims of violent crime and will be available fast and close to home.

Program Objectives

To lessen the impact of violent crime through immediate support services to victims & to increase the immediate safety of victims of violent crime.

Victim Eligibility

A "Victim" as defined in the Victim's Bill of Rights, 1995, means a person who, as a result of the commission of a crime by another, suffers emotional or physical harm, loss of or damage to property or economic harm. A victim is also defined as a parent, a grandparent, a spouse or same sex partner, a brother or sister, a child or a grandchild of a deceased victim. Eligible victims may include an immediate family member or custodial guardian of a victim who is a minor. An individual with legal authority to act on behalf of a victim may also apply.

Accessing Services

Eligible applicants may be referred to your local VCARS program by a Police service after a crime has been reported or, in the case of domestic violence and sexual assault, by the community agency providing support services to victims and to which the crime was reported. Eligible applicants may also contact the service delivery organization directly; however, a Criminal Code offence must have occurred and have been reported to a Police service or community agency providing services to victims of domestic violence or sexual assault in the province of Ontario.

Victim Services of Middlesex County is the service delivery agent of the VQRP for residents living withing Middlesex County.

The Victim Quick Response Program is comprised of 3 components that will provide financial assistance for:

1. Short-term immediate Counselling Services;

2. Funding for Funeral Expenses for victims of homicide;

3. Funding for immediate Emergency expenses in the following 5 categories:

• Crime Scene Clean Up

• Emergency Home Repairs to secure premises for the immediate safety of victims

• Transportation costs for a family member to identify a victim of homicide or, to support a victim who has suffered a serious injury as a result of violent crime

• Emergency Child Care and Dependent Care for Elderly or Special need dependents to enable a family member to identify a victim of homicide or, to support a victim who has suffered serious injury as a result of violent crime

• Emergency Accomodation and Meals

What Can't I request:

• Business or employment income lost because of time off work

• Expenses that are not directly related to the effects of the reported crime

• Requests for expenses related to crimes that occurred prior to June 30, 2007

How much can I request:

• Counselling services not to exceed a maximum of 10 sessions or $1,000

• Emergency expenses not to exceed a combined maximum, per occurrence, of $1,000

• Funeral expenses assistance not to exceed a maximum of $5,000.

How long will it take to process my request?

The service delivery organization will submit your request for service to the Ontario Victim Services Secretariat, which is responsible for the administration of this program. Once received, the Victim Quick Response Program Co-ordinator will review the Referral Form and a decision letter will be sent to you and to the service delivery organization that submitted your request. If your request is approved, a decision letter will also be sent to the service provider that you have selected. The service provider that you have selected will be paid directly through the program.

For more information contact the office at (519) 245-6660 to speak with a member of our staff team that can assist you.