Government / Legal
Legal aid, government services, advocacy, and information on rights, immigration, tenant protections, and justice system navigation.
Community legal clinics
Community-based clinics that provide legal advice and representation in areas of law that affect low-income individuals and other vulnerable populations.
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Community legal services
Legal services, including advice and representation, funded by Legal Aid Ontario. Includes specialty clinics that focus on a particular area of law.
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Consumer protection / Complaints
Services that educate or protect individuals who access or purchase products and services. Includes consumer fraud reporting and investigation of complaints about professional, community and government services.
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Courts / Corrections
Organizations, programs and facilities pertaining to federal or provincial courts of law, law enforcement, corrections and judicial services
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Elected officials
Government officials and elected representatives for the Province of Ontario and Canada.
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Human rights
Including advocacy, discrimination assistance and constitutional law.
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ID (identification)
Help in getting or replacing Social Insurance Numbers, health cards, passports or other forms of ID.
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Legal information
Information, education, resources and referral for anyone in the community, on a variety of legal topics.
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Abuse / Assault
Programs and services for people who have experienced or are at risk of abuse, assault, or domestic violence, including counselling, crisis support, and shelter.
Child abuse services
Investigation and intervention to ensure the safety and well-being of children who are vulnerable to abuse, neglect or exploitation.
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Counselling for abused people
Counselling programs for people who have experienced or are at risk of abuse.
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Crisis lines for abused people
Immediate counselling and support for people who have experienced or are at risk of abuse
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Sexual assault support
Support services including counselling, hotlines and shelter for victims of sexual assault.
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Shelter for abused women
Safe emergency accommodation for women who have experienced or are at risk of domestic violence. Most also provide a telephone crisis line, or call Assaulted Women's Helpline 416-863-0511 or 1-866-863-0511 (TTY 1-866-863-7868).
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Victims of abuse support programs
Wide range of services including information, accompaniment, crisis intervention, counselling and legal services for individuals who have experienced or are at risk of any type of violence or abuse. Some services are available for men as well as women, and for families and friends of victims and survivors.
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Community Programs
Local community programs and services that bring people together, including recreation, social groups, civic engagement, and neighbourhood support initiatives.
Community / Recreation centres
City-run neighbourhood facilities with a wide range of social programs, as well as recreation services.
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Community information
Programs that provide free general information about community, social, health and government services, often for a specific neighbourhood or area.
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Computer access
Programs that provide free computer and Internet access to members of the public.
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Volunteer centres
Programs that develop and administer the volunteer sector, and match candidates seeking unpaid positions with appropriate opportunities in the community.
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Disabilities
Services and support for people living with physical, developmental, sensory, or learning disabilities, including accessibility resources and advocacy.
Assistive devices
Funding and suppliers of medical supplies, equipment and aids for people with long-term disabilities.
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Developmental disabilities
Programs for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
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Disabilities employment programs
Employment, education and training services focusing on the needs of adults with developmental and physical disabilities.
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Disability associations
Organizations that support children and adults with a disability and who raise awareness by providing education of challenges faced by people with disabilities.
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Home repairs
Financial assistance for home repair deficiencies, energy efficiency upgrades and accessibility upgrades.
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Learning disabilities
Support for individuals with learning disabilities and their families to meet their evolving needs.
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Missing persons location assistance
Programs to locate an individual who has been reported as missing or with whom contact has been lost. Also programs that maintain information about people who are vulnerable or have physical disabilities or special medical needs who may need special assistance in the event of a disaster or crisis.
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Ontario Disability Support Program
Provides income support and employment support to meet the needs of people with disabilities and their families who are in financial need, or who want to work. See also Service Canada centres for information about Canada Pension Plan Disability Benefits.
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Parking permits for people with disabilites
Permits to park in designated parking spaces.
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Physical disabilities
Programs for individuals with physical disabilities and their families.
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Sport for people with disabilites
Adapted sport and fitness activities for people with disabilities and special needs. Programs may be open to individuals of all ages and abilities, or specialized for people with developmental or physical disabilities.
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Transportation for people with disabilities
Transportation services for those with short-term or long-term disabilities. Rides for medical appointments, day programs, weekly shopping and other important resources.
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Emergency / Crisis
Immediate assistance for people experiencing a crisis, including emergency shelter, crisis hotlines, distress centres, and urgent safety planning.
Crisis lines
Telephone response for emotional support, crisis intervention and suicide prevention.
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Elder abuse
Counseling, support and shelter programs for older adults experiencing or at risk of abuse or violence.
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Hospital emergency / Urgent care
Hospital emergency departments, urgent care centres and trauma centres.
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In-person crisis services
Emergency mobile crisis response and walk-in services for individuals experiencing a serious crisis.
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Missing persons location assistance
Programs to locate an individual who has been reported as missing or with whom contact has been lost.
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Shelters from abuse
Safe emergency accommodation for individuals at risk of abuse or violence.
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Victims of crime support programs
Immediate and ongoing support for victims of crime, including information and counseling. Also services for crime witnesses and families and friends of victims.
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Employment / Training
Job search assistance, skills training, resume help, career counselling, and workplace readiness programs for job seekers and career changers.
Academic upgrading
High school equivalency and academic upgrading programs to help adults gain entry into post-secondary or apprenticeship programs, or to find employment.
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Adult literacy
Basic instruction in writing, reading and mathematics. Includes first language literacy programs for those whose first language is not English or French.
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Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship preparation and training programs. May include information, counselling, registration and application assistance, and skills and aptitude assessment.
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Career counselling
Assessment of aptitude and skills, labour market information, counselling and referral for persons choosing a career direction.
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Disabilities employment programs
Employment, education and training services focusing on the needs of adults with developmental and physical disabilities.
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Employer staffing assistance
Support for employers seeking to increase or develop their staff, including financial incentives and retraining programs.
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International credentials
Services that assist in having foreign educational or occupational credentials assessed to determine Canadian equivalency for employment or other purposes. Includes organizations that provide credential assessment for a fee.
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Internationally trained professionals
Services for professionals trained in foreign countries to find work in their occupation or a related field. May include work experience, placement, mentoring, language testing and volunteer opportunities.
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Job search support / training
Advice and training in areas such as resume writing, research, interviewing and workplace expectations.
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Newcomer employment programs
Services that focus on assisting immigrants and refugees to prepare for and obtain employment.
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Occupational health and safety
Programs that promote safe and healthy work environments, including rights and responsibilities at work and Ontario's health and safety awareness training.
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Self-employment / Entrepreneurship
Programs for people who operate or want to start their own businesses.
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Summer employment
Seasonal programs assisting individuals in finding summer jobs, including students and youth.
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Work experience
Programs that provide practical work experience and the opportunity to develop skills, on a short-term/temporary basis.
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Youth employment
Programs and resources for youth and young adults seeking employment.
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Family Services
Support for families including parenting programs, family mediation, child care resources, and services for children and youth in need of protection.
Baby items
Programs that pay for or provide baby items including baby food, formula and clothing.
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Camps
Day and residential camp programs for children and youth, including camps for children with special needs and camps with subsidies.
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Child abuse services
Investigation and intervention to ensure the safety and well-being of children who are vulnerable to abuse, neglect or exploitation.
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Child care
Licensed alternatives to family care including child care centres, nursery schools and school age programs.
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Parent / Child programs
Social, recreational and educational get-togethers for parents or caregivers and the young children they care for. May be structured or informal.
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Pregnancy / Postnatal
Services for new mothers and women who are, or want to be, pregnant.
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Financial Assistance
Programs offering financial support including income assistance, tax clinics, emergency funds, and help with budgeting and debt management.
Credit Counselling
Non-profit and business organizations that provide credit and financial counselling, debt management, consumer proposals, money management, education and budgeting assistance to consumers and businesses.
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Employment Insurance
Federal and provincial financial assistance programs for individuals who are temporarily unemployed. Community Legal Clinics can also help low-income individuals with their application for government assistance programs and Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) claims.
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Federal Government Social Assistance Programs
Federal social assistance programs such as Old Age Security, Guaranteed Income Supplement, disability benefits, survivor benefits, caregiver benefits, etc. There are a wide variety of programs that depend on your situation.These also include Indigenous social assistance supports.
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Financial assistance programs for seniors
Government social assistance programs for seniors which include Old Age Security, Guaranteed Income Supplement, Canada Pension Plan and other supports.
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Medical Expense Programs
Programs that provide financial assistance to help pay for health care related expenses
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Ontario Government Social Assistance Programs
Ontario social assistance programs (also called social assistance or welfare) such as Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program which provide financial help. Also included are programs if you need to appeal an application?s denial of benefits and government subsidized prescription drug benefits programs.
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Other Financial Assistance Programs
Miscellaneous programs that provide financial support for those eligible. For example, social service clubs grants, property tax relief, child care expense assistance, medical expense programs, recreation programs, training expense help and health services which provide financial support for certain health conditions.
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Rent and Housing Assistance Programs
Financial relief and loans for rent, first and last deposit, moving expenses, subsidized rent from rent banks and housing programs.
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Utility Assistance Programs
Financial assistance to pay electricity, gas and water bills with the help of utility financial assistance programs.
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Workers Compensation
Government programs, such as Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), that provides income replacement/compensation, vocational rehabilitation, occupational therapy and retraining for injured workers.
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Food
Food assistance programs including food banks, community meals, nutrition programs, and emergency food hampers for individuals and families.
Cooking classes and facilities
Programs that provide kitchen facilities that individuals, groups or organizations can use to prepare and serve food. Includes programs that teach people how to prepare nutritious and affordable meals.
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Food access for seniors/people with disabilities
Variety of programs that support the capacity of older adults and adults with disabilities to maintain healthy eating habits, including social dining, meal delivery, assistance for grocery shopping and in home meal preparation.
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Food banks and referrals
Programs that distribute free groceries or vouchers to eligible individuals and families on low incomes. Typically operate one or two days a week, and serve only those residing within specific geographic boundaries. Includes organizations referring the general public to these programs.
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Food delivery
Food banks and grocery stores that deliver food to people who are homebound. Includes programs that deliver boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables on a regular basis to individuals who enroll in the service.
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Food for special dietary needs
Programs that provide vitamins and other nutrients.
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Free / Low-cost meals
Community programs generally open to all, but focused on individuals who are on low incomes, homeless or unemployed.
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Grocery stores, fresh food and producers
Programs where the public can buy fresh food products, including grocery stores and cooperatives, farmers markets and farms.
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Grow / Pick your own food
Programs that support members of the public to produce their own fruits and vegetables by giving access to community gardens, providing tools and advice on gardening, or by organizing trips to pick fresh produce directly from local farms.
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Infant formula / Baby food
Programs that provide baby food, usually in addition to other baby items and groceries.
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Non-profit catering services and eating establishments
Social enterprises providing meals and catering services. Some operate with the mandate of providing training or working experience to groups facing employment barriers.
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Other food security initiatives
Organizations that advocate or run programs to increase food security in their local community, including food coalitions, food rescue programs, foundations, and other agencies/services generally involved in poverty and hunger reduction.
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School meal programs
Programs that provide free or low-cost meals or snacks to school children.
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Francophones
Services and programs available in French for the Francophone community, including education, health, legal, and social services.
Francophones
Services focusing on the needs of the French-speaking community.
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Health Care
Health care services including primary care, mental health support, dental care, prescription assistance, and health education programs.
Community health centres
Outpatient clinics in the community that provide comprehensive primary health care and education by a team of health professionals.
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Finding a medical professional
Services that help you find a doctor, dentist, or other medical professional.
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Home support programs
Non-medical services that provide assistance in performing routine household, yard and personal care activities for older adults, people with disabilities, eligible low income people, families whose normal routines have been disrupted by an emergency or others who need or want these services.
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Hospice / palliative care
In-home and facility-based programs for individuals with terminal illness, their families and friends. Included are organizations that deal with death and dying issues.
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Hospital emergency / Urgent care
Hospital emergency departments, urgent care centres and trauma centres.
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Local Health Integration Networks
Responsible for arranging in-home or school health and social services, and to process placements in long-term care facilities for individuals who can no longer remain in their own homes.
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Long term care homes
Accommodation for individuals who require more nursing or personal care than can be provided through home support or other options. Formerly known as homes for the aged and nursing homes.
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Pregnancy / Postnatal
Services for new mothers and women who are, or want to be, pregnant.
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Transportation to medical appointments
Transportation for medical appointments.
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Walk-in medical clinics
Medical consultation and treatment for illnesses or injuries that do not need the attention of a hospital emergency department.
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Homelessness
Services for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, including shelters, outreach programs, drop-in centres, and housing support.
Free / Low-cost meals
Community programs generally open to all, but focused on individuals who are on low incomes, homeless or unemployed.
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Homeless respite
Day centres where homeless people can spend time during the day or evening. May offer supplies, facilities for personal care or needs, or other basic supportive services. Include also programs that offer recuperative care to homeless people who are too ill or frail to recover from an illness or injury while living on the streets.
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Homeless shelters
Emergency accommodation for people who are homeless.
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Street outreach
Outreach to homeless or street-involved individuals. May include counselling, mobile health services, food, clothing, hygiene items, and assistance obtaining shelter and housing.
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Housing
Housing assistance including affordable housing listings, rent supplements, tenant support, and help finding safe, stable accommodation.
Health related temporary housing
Accommodation for out-of-town medical patients and/or their families.
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Help to find housing
Services providing assistance in locating and securing permanent housing, particularly housing help centres.
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Home improvement / renovation / accessibility
Programs that assist in home efficiency improvements, barrier removal and accessibility, and low cost materials.
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Home ownership
Programs that can help with financing a new home through loans, subsidies and grants.
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Housing expense assistance
Programs that may help with costs related to accessing and maintaining housing, such as moving costs, rent and rental deposits, and home barrier removal.
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Other housing related services / organizations
Services such as tenant or landlord support, rent control, moving services, insurance and advocacy.
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Rental housing
Access points to find out about and apply for available rental units.
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Retirement homes
Private housing for older adults able to pay for their own care and support and not requiring 24-hour nursing care.
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Supportive (semi-independent) housing
Services for individuals requiring some support to live independently in an apartment setting (typically in specific, designated buildings), including 24-hour emergency response.
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Transitional housing
Short-term accommodation for those leaving emergency shelters or in need of housing during a life transition, including people with mental illness and addictions, single mothers and victims of violence.
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Indigenous Peoples
Culturally grounded services for Indigenous peoples, including healing programs, cultural centres, language revitalization, and community support.
Addictions Treatment & Prevention
Programs offering education, prevention, counselling or treatment for substance use disorders and dependencies, including smoking cessation and compulsive gambling
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Children & Family Services
Organizations, programs and services for First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples that support the implementation of their own models for child and family services, including those governed under Indigenous laws.
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Disaster and Emergency Resources
Organizations, services and programs offering assistance before, during and after a disaster, local emergency or evacuation
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First Nations Band Offices
Offices that serve as administrative centres for a known and recognized Band of First Nations persons, whose affairs are usually governed by a Band Council and/or traditional chiefs.
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Food Security
Programs and services that offer food security to Indigenous people, including food banks, free or low-cost meals and home delivered meals.
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Health Services
Health services specifically for Indigenous communities
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Helplines & Crisis Services
Services and helplines that support Indigenous people in crisis
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Housing and Shelter
Services providing assistance to Indigenous people in locating and securing permanent housing, or providing shelter in times of crisis.
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Indigenous Education, Training and Employment
Organizations and programs which offer learning, training or employment opportunities for Indigenous people.
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Indigenous Peoples
Wide range of programs and services focusing on the needs of individuals in the First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, including counselling, health, housing, legal, educational and crisis services.
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Indigenous Policing, Legal, Justice and Advocacy Services
Police services, courts and programs that provide assistance for Indigenous people who have legal issues
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Indigenous Youth
Organizations, programs and services for First Nations, Inuit and Métis youth
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Mental Health and Counselling for Indigenous People
Programs and organizations providing mental health services for Indigenous people, including counselling, hotlines, support groups and information/education.
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Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ People
Supports for families, friends, loved ones and survivors of Victimized, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ People
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Residential School Survivors
Services specifically for Survivors of the Indian Residential School System
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Services for Indigenous People
Programs and organizations representing and serving members of First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities
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Traditional Indigenous Healing and Wellness
Programs that offer alternative treatments that are based on Indigenous traditions about health and illness. Traditional healing is holistic in nature, comes from ancient beliefs about how individuals fit in the web of life, and generally focuses on restoring harmony and connectedness to universal powers.
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Transportation
Programs that offer transportation, including disability related and non-emergency medical transportation, senior ride programs and local transit services.
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Victim Support and Prevention for Indigenous People
Programs and services supporting Indigenous victims of crime, abuse or violence, and programs designed to prevent domestic and other types of violence.
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LGBTQ+
Programs and services supporting the LGBTQ+ community, including counselling, social groups, advocacy, and safe spaces for youth and adults.
LGBTQ+
Programs for persons who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, transgender, queer or questioning.
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Mental Health / Addictions
Mental health and addiction services including counselling, peer support, substance use treatment, recovery programs, and crisis intervention.
Addiction counselling
Including substance abuse, smoking cessation and compulsive gambling.
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Addiction treatment
Withdrawal and treatment programs for individuals experiencing alcoholism, drug addiction, compulsive gambling, eating disorders and food addiction.
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Community mental health centres
Community-based centres that provide counselling, therapy, treatment, medication and other services, on an outpatient basis.
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Crisis lines
Telephone response for emotional support, crisis intervention and suicide prevention.
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Geriatric psychiatry
Mental health counselling and treatment for older adults.
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In-person crisis services
Emergency mobile crisis response and walk-in services for individuals experiencing a serious crisis.
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Justice and mental health programs
Services for individuals involved with the criminal justice system who have a mental health background, including diversion programs.
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Psychiatric hospitals
Facilities with long or short-term, inpatient or outpatient mental health services for children, adolescents, adults or older adults.
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Support groups
Mutual aid groups for individuals (and often families and friends) who share a common problem or concern, including emotional or mental health issues and disorders.
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Newcomers
Settlement services for newcomers and immigrants, including language classes, credential recognition, cultural orientation, and integration support.
Citizenship assistance
Programs that assist people to apply for Canadian citizenship and prepare for the Citizenship Test.
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Consulates / Embassies
Foreign diplomatic, consular and other representatives in Canada, as well as Canadian embassies, consulates and high commissions abroad.
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Conversation classes / circles
Informal programs that help people develop conversation skills in English or French.
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Cultural transition counselling
Programs providing emotional support, information and guidance for people who are experiencing stress, confusion and other feelings resulting from difficulty adjusting to a culture that is different from their own.
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English as a second language
Classes for adults learning English, including LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) programs.
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French as a second language
Classes for adults learning French, including LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) programs.
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Immigration / Sponsorship
Services related to the process of immigrating to Canada, including sponsorship and appeals.
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International credentials
Services that assist in having foreign educational or occupational credentials assessed to determine Canadian equivalency for employment or other purposes. Includes organizations that provide credential assessment for a fee.
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Internationally-trained professionals
Services for professionals trained in foreign countries to find work in their occupation or a related field. May include work experience, placement, mentoring, language testing and volunteer opportunities.
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Interpretation / Translation
Programs that provide translation of written documents or oral interpretation services.
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Newcomer employment programs
Services that focus on assisting immigrants and refugees to prepare for and obtain employment.
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Refugees
Services for people in any stage of a refugee claim.
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Settlement services
Services that assist immigrants and refugees settling in Canada with their immediate needs, or with ongoing integration into Canadian society.
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Older Adults
Services and programs for seniors and older adults, including home care, social activities, caregiver support, and age-friendly community resources.
Elder abuse
Counseling, support and shelter programs for older adults experiencing or at risk of abuse or violence.
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Geriatric psychiatry
Mental health counselling and treatment for older adults.
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Housing for seniors
Alternative housing options for older adults, including supportive housing that offer minimal support such as homemaking or personal care, and life lease housing where residents can own a suite in a senior community and receive support services for a fee.
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Income programs for older adults
Government pension and benefit programs for older adults, and organizations that provide information and application assistance.
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Long term care homes
Accommodation for individuals who require more nursing or personal care than can be provided through home support or other options. Formerly known as homes for the aged and nursing homes.
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Missing persons location assistance
Programs to locate an individual who has been reported as missing or become lost. Also programs that maintain information about people who are vulnerable to wandering due to Alzheimer?s disease or a related dementia.
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Retirement homes
Private housing options for older adults able to pay for their own care and not requiring 24-hour nursing care. Usually offer meals, social and recreational programs, as well as various levels of homemaking help, personal care and health services.
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Transportation for older adults
Transportation for seniors and individuals with restricted mobility.
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Youth
Programs and services for children and youth, including after-school programs, mentoring, employment readiness, and safe recreational spaces.
Shelters for youth
Long and short term housing for youth, many with additional services and resources.
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Summer employment
Seasonal programs assisting individuals in finding summer jobs, including students and youth.
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Young parents
Programs and resources for young parents, including drop-ins, support programs, and help with parenting skills.
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Youth Drop-In Centres
Multipurpose centres that serve as a focal point for youth in the community and which offer, at a single location, a wide variety of services and activities.
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Youth employment
Programs and resources for youth and young adults seeking employment.
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