Looking for Help

If you are having an emergency, please call 911. 

211 is a telephone helpline (call 2-1-1) and website that provides information on and referrals to Ontario’s community, social, health-related and government services. We can help you understand what services and government benefits exist and explain how to apply.  

211 is answered 24 hours a day, every day of the year across Ontario. We list over 60,000 community and government programs and services. 

We also provide an interpreter in over 150 languages. When 211 answers the phone, ask for the language you want and hold the line.

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    Contacting 211 in Ontario

    For non-emergency help in Ontario, call 2-1-1 or search this website.

    If calling 2-1-1 does not work, or you use an Internet phone service, please call our toll-free number: 1-877-330-3213.

    If you are deaf or hard of hearing, please call 1-888-340-1001.

    Visit our Contact Us page for a list of email contacts.

    How can community and social services help me? Here are a few examples:

    Hungry? Call 211 to learn about food banks, community meals, holiday meals, meals on wheels, community gardens, food banks with baby food and lots more.

    Unemployed? Call to learn about Employment Ontario services, resume and job hunting help, entrepreneur supports, apprenticeship programs, skills upgrading, business clothing donations and lots more.

    Feeling ill? Call to be referred to walk in clinics, support groups, mental health programs, health helplines, home health care, dementia support, caregiver help and lots more.

    Stressed? Call to be referred to organizations that might be able to help such as community legal clinics, organizations providing supports and advocacy, distress lines, mental health services, support groups, parenting programs, counselling and lots more.

    Bored? Call to be referred to recreation and community centres, older adult programs, youth centres, libraries, sports clubs, mentoring and leadership programs and lots more.

    211 Services Outside of Ontario

    211 Alberta

    If you are in Alberta, call 2-1-1. This service is available 24/7.

    Access 211 Alberta online at ab.211.ca.

    211 service is available for the following areas: Calgary and area, Bow Valley Corridor, Red Deer and Red Deer County, and Central and Southern Alberta.

    Please visit http://www.ab.211.ca/communities_served for a full list of communities served by 211 Alberta.

    To reach 211 Alberta from outside of Alberta, use the following toll-free numbers:

    • Calgary – Central Alberta & Alberta South: 1-855-266-1605.
    • Edmonton – Alberta North: 1-888-482-4696.

     

    211 Nova Scotia

    Call 2-1-1 from anywhere in Nova Scotia. This service is available 24/7.

    Access 211 Nova Scotia online at ns.211.ca.

    To reach 211 Nova Scotia from outside of Nova Scotia, use the following toll-free number: 1-855-466-4994.

     

    211 Saskatchewan

    Note that 211 phone service is not yet available in Saskatchewan.

    Access 211 Saskatchewan online at sk.211.ca.

    You can contact 211 Saskatchewan by email at the following address: 211sask@unitedwayregina.ca.

    For First Nations, Métis and Inuit services and information, please click

    If you are experiencing violence and abuse, please click here.

     

    211 Greater Montreal

    Call 2-1-1 from the regions of Laval and MRC de l’Assomption

    211 is open everyday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

    Access 211 Greater Montreal online at www.211qc.ca. Web service is available for Montréal, Laval and MRC de l’Assomption regions.

     

    211 Quebec Regions: Centre de référence de la Capitale-Nationale et de la Chaudière-Appalaches (CIR)

    Call 2-1-1 from inside Quebec. Note that 211 service is available in the following areas: Greater Quebec City, and Granby areas.

    211 is open the following days and times:

    • Weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
    • Weekends from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

    Access 211 Quebec Regions online at 211quebecregions.ca. Online chat is also available, and can be found at the bottom right hand corner of the page.

     

    bc211

    Call 2-1-1 from inside B.C. This service is available 24/7. Note that 211 service is available in the following areas: Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, Squamish-Lillooet and Sunshine Coast Regional Districts.

    Access bc211 online at bc211.ca.

    To reach bc211 from outside of B.C., use the following number: 604-875-0885 This is not a toll-free number.

     

    211 Nunavut

    Note that 211 phone service is not available in Nunavut.

    Access 211 Nunavut online at nu.211.ca.

    You can also call the Kamatsiaqtut Help Line toll free at 1-800-205-3333. This service is available 24/7.

    Outside of Canada

    211 phone service is available in most of the United States. Try calling 2-1-1 or visit www.211.org to find your local 211.