What is the Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP)?

The Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP) is a support and expense benefit that is administered by the Community Safety and Crime Prevention Branch of the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. The program provides counselling services and other benefits to victims, immediate family members of victims and certain witnesses who are coping with the effects of violent crime.

First Steps

If you or someone you love becomes the victim of a crime, ensuring your immediate safety is paramount. If you feel comfortable to do so, report the crime to police and seek support from friends, family, community supports or a CVAP therapist.

Your Safety

You do not have to report a crime against you or a loved one to police or be physically hurt to be considered a victim of a crime. You are not to blame for what happened to you, nor are you responsible for the behaviour of a person who has committed a crime against you. Ensuring your physical, emotional, spiritual and mental safety is of utmost importance.  

How you May Feel

It is very common to be impacted by a crime in multiple ways including, but not limited to:

Emotionally: you may feel hurt, violated, fearful or vulnerable. You might also feel sad, angry, helpless and fear that these emotions are impacting your life in unexpected ways.

Physically: You may be physically injured or experiencing physiological reactions to stress like feeling nauseous, numb, experiencing flashbacks and nightmares or not sleeping well.

Financially: You may have loss of income or related expenses

Socially: You may withdraw from your friends or family or avoid going places that remind you of the painful experience you endured.

CVAP Eligibility

To apply for CVAP benefits, you may fill out an online application form or obtain a physical copy of the application directly from CVAP or a local victim services program. Most crime victims find comfort in having a support person, victim advocate, or therapist present to witness or assist them while completing various application forms like this one.

To locate a victim service program near you, call VictimLink BC at 1-800-563-0808.

*Importantly, you do not have to wait for charges to be laid or for the offender to be convicted before applying for CVAP benefits.

However, in most cases, there are time limits for making an application to CVAP:

• If the crime occurred before January 1, 2024: the application must be received within one year from the date of the crime

• If the crime occurred on or after January 1, 2024: the application must be received within two years from the date of the crime.

• Some exceptions to these time limits exist including if the applicant is a minor or was a minor when the crime was committed. For more information, consult the CVAP website or make contact directly with a victim services program.

Connecting with a CVAP Counsellor or Provider

Experiencing violence or crime can leave lasting emotional wounds, but you don’t have to go through it alone. As a registered CVAP provider, I offer trauma-informed, victim-centered counselling in Burnaby, British Columbia to help you regain stability, process your experiences, and move forward in a way that feels safe for you.

📍 Flexible in-person & virtual sessions are available.
💙 I provide confidential, supportive, and empowering counselling services.

If you or a loved one has been affected by crime, help is available. Book your session today: shannahickeycounselling.ca