BC Family Residence Program
The BC Family Residence Program provides accommodation assistance to enable families to stay together when their child requires medical care at BC Children's Hospital or Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children, including premature babies and newborns with other health concerns. Enhanced travel assistance is also provided through air transportation for patients of all ages.
Accommodation subsidies are provided for families with a child, aged 18 years and under, who requires medical care at BC Children's Hospital or Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children, including premature babies and newborns with other health concerns. Accommodation is arranged at convenient locations in the Vancouver area so that a family is able to stay close by while their child is receiving medical care. The program provides accommodation assistance to a family for one room for up to 30 days per stay.
To qualify for assistance with accommodation costs, families must:
- be residents of B.C. and have medical insurance coverage under the Medical Services Plan of BC, and
- have a child who is receiving medical care at BC Children's Hospital or Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children, including premature babies and newborns with other health concerns, and
- live outside Metro Vancouver*
*Families living within the following communities which comprise Metro Vancouver are not eligible for accommodation assistance: Anmore, Belcarra, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Delta, Langley, Lions Bay, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Richmond, Surrey, Vancouver, White Rock, West Vancouver and Electoral Area A.
Note: Residents of Bowen Island and island communities within Electoral Area A are eligible for the Accommodation subsidy due to the requirement of ferry travel.
Consult the Metro Vancouver website to determine if you reside within these boundaries.
Families may contact Variety - The Children's Charity directly to apply for assistance through this program.
Confirmation of the dates of medical treatment or duration of visit at BC Children's Hospital or Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children is required from the child's attending physician, BC Children's Hospital or Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children. This can be obtained via email, fax or written note and will be confirmed by Variety - The Children's Charity upon application to the program.
Physician offices and hospital personnel are encouraged to contact Variety - The Children's Charity on behalf of their patients to confirm eligibility for benefits.
Families who wish to make their own arrangements for accommodation are responsible for the cost of that accommodation. Payment of the accommodation subsidy is made directly to the facilities approved by the program. No funds will be provided directly to the patient or their family.
Local transportation costs, meals or other personal expenses are the responsibility of the patient or the patient’s family.
Transportation assistance is available to patients travelling to Vancouver and elsewhere in B.C. and Canada, to obtain specialized medical care.
Hope Air is a national charity that arranges free flights for patients of all ages who cannot afford to fly to receive the medical care they require.
To qualify for assistance through Hope Air patients must:
- be residents of B.C. and have medical insurance coverage under the Medical Services Plan of BC;
- be accessing medical care (reason for travel) for an insured service of MSP;
- meet Hope Air's eligibility criteria; and
- be able to travel on regular commercial flights without requiring special assistance beyond what is normally provided by most airlines.
There is no age restriction for this program. Air travel may include an escort if medically necessary and the airline seat inventory can accommodate the request for an escort.