What is the Trans Hope Fund?
The Trans Hope Fund is a pilot project of Moose Jaw Pride, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Moose Jaw Branch and Journey to Hope Moose Jaw. The Trans Hope Fund is a bursary program that aims to help transgender and gender diverse people access gender-affirming care by reducing the financial burden of getting to medical appointments or legally changing their name or gender-markers.
Why is the Trans Hope Fund Important?
Gender-affirming care for transgender people has been acknowledged as life saving treatment by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health and many others. Gender-affirming care is essential in improving quality of life for trans people. Inability to access this care is damaging to mental health, causes loss of hope, and contributes to very high rates of self harm and suicide in the transgender community.
Gender-affirming care can include the following services accessed by a transgender individual in relation to a gender transition:
- Mental health counselling
- Psychological or psychiatric assessment
- Hormone therapy
- Surgical care
- Legal document changes
There is often a financial barrier to accessing gender-affirming care. Costs related to care may include paperwork fees, lost wages during appointments, and out-of-pocket payment for specialist appointments and medications not covered by insurance or Sask Health. Distance is an additional barrier, particularly in small communities like Moose Jaw. Appropriate care providers are often located far away, which may require taking extra time off work and which increases costs for travel, accommodation, and meals.
Applying for a Bursary – Individual Eligibility
To apply for a bursary, an individual must:
1. Be a resident of the (former) Five Hills Health Region;
2. Identify in some way as transgender or gender diverse; AND
3. Have traveled 50 km or more to receive gender affirming care OR have gender-identity related reasons for changing their name or gender marker on government issued identification
As we do not require proof of income from individuals applying to this program, we trust applicants to apply only if they are in financial need.
Expense Eligibility
An individual may file one claim in a calendar year for amounts totaling up to a maximum of $200. An individual may claim expenses incurred while accessing gender affirming care from January 1, 2017 to the present. These expenses must not have been already covered by this fund or by another organization (e.g. Hope Air).
Eligible expenses include:
- Travel by taxi, bus or air (receipts required)
- Personal vehicle mileage ($0.30/km)
- Accommodations (receipts required)
- Meals
- Fees for a transition-related legal name change (receipts required)
- Fees relating to a gender marker change (receipts required)
- Medication relating to transition (NEW) – list “medication” on the claim form; no details required
- Financial support during the COVID-19 situation (NEW) – list “COVID financial support” on the claim form
What Expenses Are Not Eligible?
- Surgical costs
- Private counselling
- Childcare
- Missed work opportunities / sick time
- Expenses incurred outside of Canada
- Other expenses as determined by the Trans Hope Fund administration committee
Additional Coverage
Hope Air offers free airfare to medical appointments relating to gender affirming care. Individuals in financial need could potentially have their airfare paid by Hope Air for an out of province appointment and then submit a claim to the Trans Hope Fund for meals, taxi fares, and accommodations. For more information about Hope Air, visit: https://hopeair.ca
When and How are Funds Distributed?
Bursary applications will be evaluated by the administration committee. We work based on a first come, first served model.
Bursaries will be paid by cheque after expenses are incurred and claimed. No funds will be distributed before the actual expense (for travel, accommodation, etc.) has occurred.
Due to limited funding for the Trans Hope Fund, there are no guarantees that a bursary will always be available. However, we will do our best to post updates to the Moose Jaw Pride website about the availability of bursaries.
How Will the Committee Evaluate Applications?
The following criteria will be used to evaluate applications:
- The applicant meets the individual criteria
- The application is complete
- Claimed expenses are determined to be eligible
- Adequate receipts (if applicable) are submitted
- Funding is available
Privacy & Confidentiality
The process for the Trans Hope Fund is intended to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of the applicant. Applications will be reviewed by the Trans Hope Fund Committee and applicant names may also be shared with Moose Jaw Pride’s authorized individuals issuing cheques as well as Moose Jaw Pride’s bookkeepers, accountants, or auditors who review all organizational expenses.
How to Apply to the Trans Hope Fund:
Application forms for the Trans Hope Fund can be accessed online or in person at the Moose Jaw Pride Office.
Download the Expense Claim Form Below
Completed forms can be returned to the organization by any of the following means:
By email: hope@moosejawpride.ca
By mail:
Moose Jaw Pride Inc.
345 Main St. N.
Moose Jaw, SK
Canada | S6H 0W2
In person:
Moose Jaw Pride.
Open Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm, or by appointment.
What Does the Application Require?
Proof of Address
We require a copy of a document as proof that the individual resides within the Five Hills Health Region and that their address is 50 km or more from the location of their care. Acceptable proof would include driver’s licenses or other government issued identification, or utility bills. Please contact us if you have any concerns about your ability to meet this requirement (e.g. legal name does not match your current name) and we will work with you to find an appropriate solution.
Trans Hope Fund – Medical Note
T̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶m̶ ̶m̶u̶s̶t̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶p̶l̶e̶t̶e̶d̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶c̶l̶a̶i̶m̶s̶ ̶e̶x̶c̶e̶p̶t̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶L̶e̶g̶a̶l̶ ̶N̶a̶m̶e̶ ̶C̶h̶a̶n̶g̶e̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶G̶e̶n̶d̶e̶r̶ ̶M̶a̶r̶k̶e̶r̶ ̶c̶h̶a̶n̶g̶e̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶m̶s̶.̶
*Medical Notes are no longer required to access this fund!
Expense Claim Form
This form is a summary of all of the expenses being claimed.
Receipts
Please be sure to include copies of your receipts for all claims (except for travel with a personal vehicle and per diem meal expenses).
Who Sponsors the Trans Hope Fund?
Journey to Hope Moose Jaw and CMHA Moose Jaw are the lead sponsors of the fund and assist with its administration.
For more information, please contact:
Taylor Carlson, Executive Director of Moose Jaw Pride:
(306) 692-3388
taylor@moosejawpride.ca
How can I donate to support the fund?
To make a donation to the Trans Hope Fund that is eligible for a charitable tax credit, please visit:
https://cmhasandbox.microsoftcrmportals.com/new-donation/
To make sure your donation goes to the right place:
1. Be sure to check the box for “Local Branch” and select Moose Jaw from the list
2. Write “Trans Hope Fund” in the notes section
You can also make out a cheque to CMHA Moose Jaw Branch with “Trans Hope Fund” as the memo line. Just mail it to:
CMHA Moose Jaw Branch
650 Coteau St W
Moose Jaw, SK S6H 5E6
Feedback?
The Trans Hope Fund is currently in a pilot project stage. There are many different ways this program could change and evolve in the future. As organizers, there are some perspectives that we understand and others that we haven’t thought about yet. Please help us improve the program by submitting your feedback to: hope@moosejawpride.ca
