An “emergency” is a sudden, unexpected situation that requires the immediate attention of the caregiver and temporarily prevents or significantly interferes with their ability to provide care. Examples of qualifying emergencies may include, but are not limited to:

• Medical Emergencies: The caregiver or care recipient experiences a sudden health crisis requiring urgent medical attention, hospitalization, or immediate care.
• Family Crisis: An unexpected death in the family, serious illness or injury of a close family member, or an unforeseen need to travel because of a family emergency.
• Personal Crisis: The caregiver experiences a significant personal crisis, severe stress, or burnout that requires immediate attention and a temporary break from caregiving responsibilities. This must include a doctor note that details the mental condition and recommendation for rest and renewal. 
• Housing Emergencies: Unexpected damage to the caregiver’s home, loss of housing, or another urgent situation that temporarily makes the home unsafe or unsuitable for providing care. Emergency Voucher funds cannot be used to pay for housing repairs, rent, mortgage payments, or other housing expenses. The funds are to be used to hire a respite provider to care for your care recipient in your absence.
• Natural Disasters: Sudden events such as floods, severe storms, fires, or other disasters that temporarily affect the caregiver’s living situation or ability to provide care.

Please note: An emergency must be related to an immediate and unexpected disruption in the caregiver’s ability to provide care. The Emergency Respite Voucher is intended to pay for respite services only and cannot be used to resolve or pay for the emergency itself, including utility bills or other household expenses.