Other sources of housing and living cost support​

A significant concern for most lung transplant patients is affordability.  Many patients and caregivers from outside Vancouver find themselves in a difficult situation attempting to carry the financial costs of two households at a time.
​Below find a few possible sources of help:

The Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction offer means-tested assistance under the Emergency Health Needs. Connect with the Lung Transplant Program Social Worker as soon as possible to see if you qualify and to ensure you have the necessary paperwork done and are actively listed for a lung transplant.

Applying for a Persons with Disabilities designation. 
​The Lung Transplant Program Social Worker can also help you with the application process for getting Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). The benefits of having a PWD designation go beyond the financial. If you live in Victoria, get help creating a successful application through Together Against Poverty Society (www.tapsbc.ca), which is a good resource, even for people who live outside Victoria, where the organization is based.

Help with flight and ferry costs
Travelling to Vancouver British Columbia has a Travel Assistance Program (TAP) that covers the cost of ferry travel or a portion of air travel if you must or want to fly when you have a medical appointment in Vancouver.  Note: You will need a pink TAP program form that you can get from Lung Transplant Clinic front desk – or get one from your family doctor or lung specialist.

(Tip: If you find yourself filling completing the form and not knowing the MSP numbers of your doctor, you can look their MSP numbers up on the BC College of Physicians and Surgeons website here (www.cpsbc.ca/physician_search)

Help getting around Vancouver
A HandyCard and TaxiSaver allows you to get discount fares for public transport and taxi fares in and around Vancouver. To learn more Google: Translink HandyCard and TaxiSaver. ​