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Social Resources for PSWs

Below, you will find a list of resources that may help you, your family or someone you may know in times of crisis or need. We have put together a list of community resources, mental health and crisis support resources, employment and social services, medical services, food services, financial resources and support, housing resources, and legal resources.

Community Resources

Family Service Toronto

Family Service Toronto assists individuals and families through counselling, community engagement and public education programs, and advocacy work.

Mental Health & Crisis Support

Distress Centre of Greater Toronto

Help is available from empathetic, highly-trained volunteer responders who specialize in abuse recover, emergency & crisis intervention and emotional support service. Services include timely emotional support, crisis intervention, and suicide prevention.

The Access Point

The Access Point functions as a centralized point for individual mental health and additions support services, and supportive housing. The Access Point provides streamlined coordinated access to a number of services through one application and intake assessment process.

BounceBack Ontario

BounceBack is a free skill-building program managed by the Canadian Mental Health Association designed to help adults and youth 15+ manage low mood, depression, anxiety, stress or worry. Delivered over the phone with a coach and through online videos, BounceBack offers tools to support mental wellness through workbooks, activities, videos, and trained coaching sessions.

Employment & Social Services

Toronto Employment & Social Services

Provides financial benefits through Ontario Works, employment supports and financial supports. Ontario Works caseworkers can assist with accessing financial benefits, connecting to health, housing, and childcare services, finding a jobs or training programs, referrals to education, training and employment supports.

Medical Resources

City of Toronto: Health Support

Funds may be available to pay for certain medically based items/services such as eyeglasses, emergency dental work, medication, medical items (walkers, hearing aids, hospital beds and more) or funeral expenses.

Ontario Trillium Drug Program

If you have high prescription-drug costs — compared to your household income — you might qualify for the Trillium Drug Program. The Trillium Drug Program covers the cost of about 5,000 prescription drugs that are currently available through the Ontario Drug Benefit program, and about 1,000 drug products upon meeting specified criteria through the Exceptional Access Program.

Canadian Centre for Refugee & Immigrant Healthcare: Urban Dental Clinic

All dental patients are screened according to fixed financial criteria, and those who qualify can receive basic dental care at our clinic for a small fee, including emergency treatment, extractions and fillings.

Food Services

Daily Bread Food Bank

No ID is required for a single person to access food, but please note that with over 100 Daily Bread member food banks operating in Toronto, every program is a little different – some may require an appointment or have certain eligibility criteria like geographic catchment areas. Once you are registered you will be able to access food. Some food banks operate a “shopping model” where you can choose your preferred items within categories and based on household size, others may provide a pre-packed food box, or there may be a mix of both.

The Food Bank of York Region

Services are centered on the collection and distribution of food to a network of 80+/- non-profit agencies, including local food banks and pantries, schools, shelters, and social housing cooperatives.

Financial Resources

Ontario Works

Ontario Works offers financial assistance, benefits, and employment assistance. To see if you are financially eligible, Ontario Works will look at your circumstances including your income and assets, living expenses, family size and make-up and shelter costs.

Government of Canada Free Tax Clinics

Through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP), community organizations host free tax clinics where volunteers complete tax returns for people with a modest income and a simple tax situation.

Ceridian Cares

Ceridian Cares provides financial assistance to families that require support and aims to improve the communities in which we live and work. Ceridian Cares provides grants for food, clothing, footwear, and household items. They provide assistance for medical devices, home adjustments for barrier free living, and recreation programs for individuals and families in need.

Housing Resources

The Neighborhood Organization – Housing Program

TNO’s Housing Program provides a comprehensive range of housing support services to individuals and households experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness by supporting them to maintain their current accommodation or find a new one while understanding their rights and responsibilities as tenants.

The program serves as an access centre for the City’s Access to Housing division, the Toronto Rent Bank and a variety of energy assistance programs and is funded by the City of Toronto. Services are free and open to all residents living in Toronto.

Canadian Centre for Housing Rights

CCHR advances the right to housing by serving renters to help them stay housed, providing education and training about housing rights, and advancing rights-based housing policy.

COSTI Immigrant Services: Housing

COSTI Housing Services include crisis intervention, market rent housing search, assistance with housing applications, group and individual life skills coaching, direct access to employment counselling, Rent Bank, Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) and Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP) applications, weekly ID Clinic, Streets to Homes follow-up, workshops on tenant rights and responsibilities, as well as individual counselling and supports for victims of domestic violence. COSTI also offers specialized services for women, including weekly support groups and mentorship opportunities.

Legal Services

Legal Aid Ontario

Legal Aid Ontario provides free legal support and lawyers to qualifying individuals dealing with legal issues. Services include assistance with criminal legal issues, domestic violence, family legal issues, mental health legal issues, refugee and immigration legal issues, and also offers legal clinics. A ‘Live Chat’ option is available on the website

  • For more information and to apply for legal aid, visit https://www.legalaid.on.ca/
    • A ‘Live Chat’ option is available on the website
  • Call toll-free Monday-Friday from 8:00am-5:00pm: 1-800-668-8258
    • Please note Legal Aid Ontario will accept collect calls
  • For general inquiries, contact info@lao.on.ca

JusticeNet

JusticeNet is a not-for-profit service helping people in need of legal expertise, whose income is too high to access legal aid and too low to afford standard legal fees. JusticeNet will assist in connecting you with a professional to help with your legal issue at a reduced rate.