Find Services - Basic Needs Services
Food, health care, housing, education, and other essentials
Education
Education
- Academic upgrading programs help prepare adult learners for employment or entry to skills training, grade 12 equivalency, and post-secondary programs.
- Non-profit programs that help adults with limited formal schooling acquire basic reading, writing, math, and problem-solving skills. These skills make it easier for people to find and keep a job, participate in their communities, and support their ...
- Community-led and non-profit programs that help Indigenous adults with limited formal schooling acquire basic reading, writing, math, and problem-solving skills. These skills make it easier for people to find and keep a job, participate in their ...
- Alternative schools are for young students who find education outside of the traditional school setting beneficial due to learning disabilities, culture or behavioural issues.
- Boards of Education are places that provide junior and senior kindergarten, elementary or secondary education. These establishments may also provide French immersion education, special programs for exceptional pupils and those experiencing ...
- Institutions offering formal post-secondary education.
- Continuing education is lifelong learning instruction to adults for personal growth and professional development. Continuing education is not compulsory, and with most courses you do not earn an academic credit but may earn a certificate, diploma or ...
- Language training programs for individuals interested in learning English or French.
- Students whose first language is French study in French Language schools while students learning French as a second language study at French Immersion programs.
- The General Educational Development (GED) testing program allows adults who have not finished high school to receive an Ontario High School Equivalency Certificate based on an assessment of education maturity gained through experience. The ...
- Are you considering home schooling your children? These services provide information and support to homeschoolers.
- Schools that provide formal education that is focused on a particular culture and its language. Most are private schools offering elementary and secondary academic education; the Collège Boréal offers post secondary. Some schools also offer language ...
- These associations consist of a group of parents who are volunteers that promote a particular type of education for their children. These volunteers also organize and coordinate events related to their children‘s education.
- Indigenous governed and operated institutions that offer post-secondary education in a flexible, personalized, and culturally responsive learning environment.
- Private schools providing post-secondary skills-based training and education. See also Community Colleges and Universities and Vocational and Skills Training .
Employment and Training
Employment and Training
- Non-profit programs that help adults with limited formal schooling acquire basic reading, writing, math, and problem-solving skills. These skills make it easier for people to find and keep a job, participate in their communities, and support their ...
- Community-led and non-profit programs that help Indigenous adults with limited formal schooling acquire basic reading, writing, math, and problem-solving skills. These skills make it easier for people to find and keep a job, participate in their ...
- Unemployed or underemployed people can get help through drop-in resource centres, job search assistance programs, and job-skills workshops. Employment counselling and career planning services provide information on the labour market, grants, funding, ...
- Unemployed or underemployed Indigenous people can get help through drop-in resource centres, job search assistance programs, and job-skills workshops. Employment counselling and career planning services provide information on the labour market, ...
- Unemployed or underemployed people with disabilities can get help through drop-in resource centres, job search assistance programs, and job-skills workshops. Employment counselling and career planning services provide information on the labour ...
- Unemployed or underemployed youth and young adults can get help through drop-in resource centres, job search assistance programs, and job-skills workshops. Employment counselling and career planning services provide information on the labour market, ...
- Government programs providing financial assistance for people who have lost their jobs.
- Agencies and programs that provide assistance to people starting or operating a small business.
- Vocational programs offer on-the-job training and support in various industries.
- Workplace safety education and training provides workers with the knowledge they need to create and maintain safe workplaces. Workers learn about the safest ways to handle hazardous products, their rights and responsibilities, as well as other health ...
Financial Assistance
Financial Assistance
- Programs that help people with money management and budgetary problems, including financial literacy, budget planning, and credit counselling.
- Programs that provide people in financial need with basic income support and temporary assistance for urgent and unexpected financial events.
- Programs that provide financial assistance for low-income families with young children.
- Programs that provide financial assistance for people with physical and developmental disabilities.
- Programs that provide financial assistance for low-income individuals and families to help pay rent so that people can stay in their homes, and to cover utility fees (such as electricity and heating).
- Programs that provide financial assistance for older adults, including tax clinics and grants allowing seniors to stay in their homes or cover costs associated with providing care.
- Income support programs ensure a minimum level of income to people in financial need. Additional short-term benefits may be given on a discretionary basis to individuals dealing with urgent or special needs.
- Income support programs that people contribute to, for when they may need assistance later.
- Legal support for eligible, low-income Ontarians, looking for assistance with legal problems, such as domestic violence, family law, immigration and refugee law, and criminal law.
- The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) trains Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) volunteers who can complete tax returns if your income is low and your tax situation is simple. For a full list, visit the CRA website . Volunteers do not complete ...
Food
Food
- Free or low-cost food programs that focus on health promotion or food literacy education.
- Programs providing a prepared meal to individuals and families in need. These meals, provided for free or at a low cost, may occur on an on-going or seasonal basis.
- Services or programs providing groceries on an on-going, seasonal, or emergency basis.
- Services or programs that prepare and provide regular delivery of meals to older adults or people with disabilities or other medical conditions.
Health Care
Health Care
- People affected by addiction get together to share experiences and practical tips.
- Alcohol and drug programs that provide therapy and mutual support for people who have a substance use disorder. These services help them better understand their dependency and support their efforts to recover.
- Community health centres provide primary care, health promotion, education and illness prevention services using a community development approach. Health care professionals including physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, counsellors, community ...
- Community mental health programs provide a variety of services to help support people who have ongoing mental health issues living in the community. Services offered include information and referral, case management, housing supports, rehabilitation, ...
- Counselling aims at assisting people to understand and overcome or manage personal problems, such as difficulties in relationships, anger, conflict, trauma, and abuse.
- Dental clinics specialize in the care of teeth and gums including the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of their diseases. The organizations listed here provide options for low-cost dental care.
- Mobile medical or psychological services that address the urgent needs of individuals with serious mental illness.
- Walk-in medical or psychological services that address the urgent needs of individuals with serious mental illness.
- Phone or online services offering immediate assistance to people who feel frightened or unable to cope.
- Health care services offered at home, at school, and in the community, as well as access to supported living programs and long-term care, are coordinated by Ontario Health atHome to ensure people of all ages can make informed choices about their ...
- Medical treatment that uses prescribed medications, such as methadone or buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone), to help people manage opioid use disorder by preventing withdrawal and reducing cravings. This therapy can be provided by doctors, nurse ...
- Services or programs that specialize in providing treatment, counselling, or support for people affected by problem gambling or related problems.
- Smoking prevention programs and support services that help people to quit smoking or vaping.
- Medical clinics for walk-in or same-day non-urgent care, often without an appointment. Doctors and nurses at these clinics can assess and treat minor illnesses and injuries.
Housing
Housing
- Affordable housing provides individuals and families housing that meet their needs and that they can afford.
- Assistance is provided to individuals and families with low and moderate incomes to find affordable housing. Affordable housing is provided by public, non-profit, co-operative or inexpensive private housing. The Ontario Landlord and Tenant Board (see ...
- Seniors' apartments are generally for seniors, 55 years and over, who are able to live independently. Most of the apartments listed below provide rent-geared-to-income units in addition to market rates.
- Second-stage housing programs that provide an intermediate step between shelters and more stable housing. Services focus on rebuilding support networks and addressing long-term issues.
Material Aid
Material Aid
- Christmas aid programs provide food for Christmas dinner and toys for children. Families usually apply sometime in the fall.
- Programs and services that provide free or low-cost clothing and household items. Services can be provided on an ongoing, seasonal, and emergency basis.
- Programs and services selling and exchanging used clothing, furniture, and household items. Proceeds from sales go toward funding services and programs for those in need.
Shelters, Drop-Ins, and Outreach
Shelters, Drop-Ins, and Outreach
- Centres that provide immediate services to adults who face barriers to accessing care and support, such as food, clothing, showers, laundry and bus tokens, as well as peer support, support groups, social activities, and sometimes longer-term services ...
- Centres that provide immediate services to youth who face barriers to accessing care and support, such as food, clothing, showers, laundry and bus tokens, as well as peer support, support groups, social activities, and sometimes longer-term services ...
- Crisis services providing temporary residence and supports for adults experiencing homelessness.
- Crisis services providing temporary residence and supports for adults with dependent children experiencing homelessness.
- Crisis services providing temporary residence and supports for youth experiencing homelessness.
- Crisis services providing temporary residence and supports for people escaping gender-based violence or abuse. Services provided may include counselling, community referrals, safety planning, and emergency transportation.
- Crisis intervention programs, hotlines, shelters, and legal assistance are available for people who have experienced or are experiencing forced marriage, sex, or labour. Awareness campaigns are used to train service providers on how to identify ...
- Services or programs that specialize in providing support and aid to people experiencing homelessness.
Social Action and Your Rights
Social Action and Your Rights
- Elected federal, provincial, municipal, and Indigenous representatives provide their constituents with information about government programs, while addressing concerns about government services and public policy.
- Regulatory bodies and public advocates are appointed by federal, provincial, municipal, and Indigenous governments to protect and promote the rights of citizens.
- Programs that assist formerly homeless or low-income people with various services to become self-sufficient. Includes information, advocacy, forms filling, referrals, income tax clinics, ID clinics and coordinating other services. Can include limited ...
- Organizations and groups whose primary purpose is to coordinate community responses to social issues, such as homelessness.
Transportation
Transportation
- Providing transportation to the public for a fee, the system runs on set routes at a scheduled time. Public transportation may offer specialized services for residents with mobility limitations.
- Wheelchair accessible transportation is available through public transportation services, community organizations and private companies.
- Transportation services for the elderly or people with special needs who are mobile (ambulatory). Most transportation services are provided by volunteer services and a nominal fee may be charged. Some providers may offer accompaniment services to ...