Since launching in 2018, the FirstService Relief Fund has awarded more than $2 million in grants to help support individuals through personal financial hardship. These situations—called Qualified Events—can include the death of a family member, serious illness or injury, non-routine medical expenses, natural disasters, impacts to a primary residence, domestic violence or violent crime, and military deployment.

The FirstService Relief Fund is administered by an independent third party, the Emergency Assistance Foundation, and it operates under IRS guidelines. These guidelines help define what qualifies as a Qualified Event and which expenses are eligible under each category. And while some hardship programs limit the events or expenses they cover, we’re able to include every allowable Qualified Event and expense category—so we can support as many team members as possible within the fund’s parameters.

We know gathering paperwork can feel like one more thing on an already full plate. Still, IRS rules do require documentation that verifies both the event and the related financial impact. Including the right documentation up front can help avoid delays, and applications submitted without the required documentation cannot be approved. If you’re not sure what to include, the helpline team can help you understand what’s needed.

One category that can be a little tricky is Impacts to Primary Residence, and it’s completely normal to have questions about what qualifies. Last year, 36 applications were submitted under this category, and 10 were approved. Approved requests typically involved unexpected damage—such as a falling tree, lightning strike, flood, fire, or roof repairs due to hail or storm damage.

Sometimes requests in this category aren’t eligible and approved—especially when the need is related to routine maintenance or normal wear and tear (for example, replacing an HVAC system or water heater), since those costs aren’t eligible under these guidelines.

Similarly, general financial hardship or ongoing financial strain—such as falling behind on bills, rent and mortgage payments, utility assistance, or car repairs—is not considered an eligible event on its own under Impacts to Primary Residence.

If you’re not sure where your situation falls, the 24/7 applicant support helpline is a great place to start—we’ll talk it through with you and help you understand what may be covered and what documentation you’ll need.

If you’re thinking about applying for a grant—or if you’d simply like a quick gut-check on eligibility—we’d love for you to call the 24/7 applicant support helpline (U.S. 1-888-497-4114 or Canada 1-855-278-2363). You can also access the 24/7 online chat feature on the fund website to be connected with a live person who can answer your questions. Whichever contact method you choose, you’ll connect with experts who can answer questions, help you understand what the IRS guidelines allow, and confirm what documentation you may need, so you feel supported and confident as you move forward.

For more information visit https://purpose.firstservice.com/relief-fund/.