Searching for Credit Counselling

Voluntary Trustee Program assists people who are experiencing homelessness or at imminent risk of homelessness and who are experiencing financial issues gain skills to help them improve their financial situation Examples include:

• structured trustee services to assist people to pay their rent and bills
• support in managing daily finances
• working with clients on creating, and following, monthly budgets
• financial assistance for those who are not able to carry cash on them daily
• life skills for financial success strategies

Consumer debt counselling and budget planning services

• alternative to bankruptcy
• debt consolidation services
• includes assistance with arranging budgets, creditor intervention and acting as a go between with creditors
• face to face, telephone and online counselling
• credit education seminars
• a nonprofit organization and registered charitable organization
• an accredited member of Credit Counselling Canada

Charitable non-profit credit counselling organization that provides free credit counselling, budgeting assistance, and debt repayment options to Canadians struggling with financial hardship

• counselling sessions can be held in person by making an appointment or by telephone
• conducts educational seminars and workshops for groups and community centres across Canada, maintaining a primary focus on improved financial literacy for all Canadians

The Salvation Army in Midland provides

• temporary food assistance
• support during times of crisis
• budget counselling
• advocacy
• referral services
• practical and spiritual counselling
• Christmas Assistance program with applications available mid-October through November
• Thrift Store 649 Balm Beach Rd has affordable clothing and household items for sale.
• Street Outreach Ministry - bringing help to homeless and at risk people

The Salvation Army Collingwood Community Services provides:

• temporary food assistance
• offer emotional and spiritual care and support during times of crisis
• budget counselling
• advocacy
• referral services

Does not provide court assistance. Works with and alongside Barrie Correctional Program and other social service agencies in the community.

Debt management and consolidation programs

• personal money management counselling
• online resources on consumer debt and money management

Debt and money management programs and education

• credit and budget counselling, debt management programs for individuals, couples and families having financial and credit management issues
• delivers services to the Community Service Order for Adults and the Youth Diversions/Referral Programs (through police referrals only)

Retains credit history files and scores for consumers - free Equifax credit score and report
Prepares credit history files for commercial clients
Online resources, educational materials and products

Housing Services

• housing counselling
• information and referral
• matches tenants with landlords, eviction prevention, landlord outreach and recruitment, housing listings
• voluntary trusteeship service
• street outreach to persons who are homeless, Streets to Homes follow up support for clients who have been placed in housing

MyAccesstoHousingTO (Housing Connections, see separate entry) Community Partner -- assistance with housing search and application process

Rent Bank access centre -- interest-free repayable loans to low-income households who are in rental arrears or need to move into more suitable housing

• must have legal status in Canada and meet income requirements
• clients of Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program may be eligible
• landlord and tenant mediation
• money management advice
• follow-up search assistance and community referrals
• also interest-free loans for first and last month's rent deposit to move into more affordable housing

Access centre for Ontario Electricity Support Program -- assistance with applications

• also for LEAP (Low Income Energy Assistance Program), sponsored by Toronto Hydro Electric System and United Way Toronto -- assistance to low income individuals and families who are in arrears for their electricity utility bills and have exhausted all other sources of financial support
• for help with Enbridge gas bills call 1-855-487-5327

Community services and supports

• information and referral
• assistance with filling out government forms
• assistance with Ontario Works/ODSP
• assistance with pensions
• government, trusteeship service
• document replacement and certification
• commissioner of Oath/affidavits
• interpretation and translation
• voice mail service
• personal income tax services

Albion Volunteer Trusteeship Service -- individualized money management supports

Debt management and consolidation programs

• personal money management counselling
• online resources on consumer debt and money management

Personal money management including debt assessment, credit counselling, budgeting assistance and debt repayment options

• mediation between debtor and creditor
• consumer debt repayment programs
• consumer credit education including online resources

Community Access Services

• Commissioner of Oaths
• computers, internet access, fax, photocopier
• income tax clinic
• Metro Voice Mail -- persons without telephones receive private phone number to retrieve messages from any touch-tone phone

Harm Reduction Services -- individual and community support or information about opiate use and addiction, addiction counselling, counselling and case management, harm reduction supplies (mobile and fixed site)

Housing Hub -- support for individuals and households at-risk or experiencing homelessness to find, apply for and maintain housing

Street Outreach Services

• mobile outreach in Scarborough and North York to support individuals experiencing homelessness and sleeping outdoors
• provides wellness checks, basic needs supplies, community referrals, informal counselling, support with accessing shelter and assistance finding and obtaining housing

Financial Empowerment and Problem-Solving (FEPS) program -- financial literacy workshops, income tax clinic, budgeting, mobile community financial worker

Massage Parlour and Micro-Brothel Outreach -- for clients involved in sex work in massage parlours and micro-brothels in Scarborough

• distribution of safer sex tools, community referrals and informal case management
• access to sexual health testing appointments

Offers programs and services to assist individuals and families in need.
Services include:

• Food bank services (by appointment only)
• Emergency clothing and household vouchers for individuals facing homelessness, fire, flood
• Christmas Food Hampers (applications open in Nov, see separate listing)
• Pathway of Hope Initiative
• Summer camp for children aged 6 - 15 (One week overnight camp)
• Income Tax Clinic (Mar-Oct)

Provides assistance to resident through a range of services for housing related needs, including:

• help to maintain housing
• help to find housing
• help with financial assistance
• help for landlords
• help with support services
• help with emergency housing

Homeless Services (Family & Singles Hostel Services) Shelter

• Provides shelter, 3 meals a day, 24 hour support. Referrals to appropriate services and advocacy with other agencies. The homeless shelter is located in the town of Lindsay.

Trustee Program

• Trustee available for youth who are Ontario Works recipients 16 to 24 years old, and Adults who feel they need more financial support managing their funds. Supports in special circumstances (special needs) as well.

Debt management and consolidation programs

• personal money management counselling
• online resources on consumer debt and money management

Parent/Caregiver & Children Programs

• drop-in hours
• toy and resource lending library
• structured recreation programs for parents/caregivers and children newborn to age 5
• child care registry

School aged programs -- after school program

• homework help and recreational activities
• summer and March break day camps

Services for adults

• workshops, seminars
• Saturday and evening courses for adults
• income tax clinic (March-April)
• financial planning clinic by appointment
• computer lab with Internet access open to the public
• English conversation circle

Services for seniors -- programs for persons 50 years and older including

• luncheon club
• day trips
• social and recreation activities
• osteo exercise
• cards club
• computer courses

Other

• information and referral
• volunteer opportunities
• room rentals

Community Resource Services

• faxing/printing/photocopying/scanning
• public-access computers
• community bulletin board and job board display

Settlement Services

• one-on-one needs assessment and plan
• information and referrals services
• orientation to life in Canada
• information on:
  • Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC)
  • health care system and health benefits (Trillium Drug program, Healthy Smiles)
  • education system
  • housing services (Ontario Electricity Support Act)
  • financial services and the banking system
  • transportation system in Canada
  • family services programs (Youth and EarlyON)
  • employment related services
• citizenship preparation classes for the Citizenship Test
• orientation to Ontario workshop series
• assistance with immigration related forms
• volunteer opportunities

Housing Services

• assistance with housing issues, including housing search, follow up and support, assistance with applications for subsidized housing
• Toronto Rent Bank Access Centre
• Ontario Electricity Support Program -- assistance with applications
• LEAP (Low Income Energy Assistance Program)
• Emergency Energy Fund Call Centre: 416-397-7368

Seniors Program

• The Integrated Services for Seniors (ISFS) program
• The Personal Support Services (PSS) for Low Acuity Home Care program

Violence Against Women

• counselling and crisis intervention, needs assessment and referral
• transitional support
• support groups for victims and survivors

Youth Drop-in Centre

Debt management and consolidation programs

• personal money management counselling
• online resources on consumer debt and money management

Debt management and consolidation programs

• personal money management counselling
• online resources on consumer debt and money management

Credit counselling, debt management and consolidation programs

• money management education and budgeting assistance
• information and referral
• online resources on consumer debt and money management, including
  myMoneyCoach
• webinars and workshops

Financial empowerment counselling, one-on-one with trained financial counselors

• help to accessing and restoring government benefits
• debt management
• financial literacy workshops including budgeting and money management, debt and credit management, low-income retirement planning
• support to open a Registered Education Savings Plan through SmartSaver RESP guide

Support centre * peer support * caregiver support * art therapy, Brain Fog, cancer exercise, Healing Journey * family programming, yoga, meditation, relaxation, visualization * bereavement support, gay/lesbian support * lending library, monthly speaker series

Money Matters Resource Centre -- case management and information on government and employer-based income replacement programs

Long-Term Disability/Employment Law Clinic -- eligible clients receive pro bono summary advice from lawyers regarding the impact of cancer on employment matters such as disclosure at work, duty to accommodate, or understanding long-term disability benefits

Financial Advice Clinic -- eligible members discuss asset use and financial planning with a Certified Financial Planner