Searching for Utility Assistance Programs

Provides emergency food vouchers for families in need.

• Provide emergency assistance for rent, hydro and heat if possible

Helps low income individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and/or who require immediate and urgent assistance with:

• any rent, utility or heat service needs due to emergency, unforeseen or extenuating circumstances

Call the Food Bank Office at 613-354-7633 to request service. Details regarding food pick up will be provided when you call.

Access to community support

• emergency assistance with groceries and clothing
• Christmas Assistance
• pastoral counselling
• Good Food Box
• summer camps
• Low income energy assistance program (LEAP) or Hydro and Gas
• Ontario Energy Assistance Program: Hydro rebate assistance

See separate program listings for more information

Provide emergency food and vouchers for families in need.

• Provide clothing allowance for those in need
• Provide emergency utility assistance for fuel, electricity and essential household services when possible
• Furniture when available.

Christmas baskets and emergency financial assistance

• Christmas baskets contain both food and toys
• financial assitance helps individuals cope with unexpected crises such as fire, sudden death or utility disconnection
• volunteers opportunites available

The Shelter Benefit is available for anyone needing assistance with the following items who meet the eligibility criteria :

• Last month rent deposit
• Utility deposit - issued directly to the utility provider
• Rental arrears to avoid eviction
• Utility arrears to avoid disconnection or to reconnect
• Moving costs
• Bed bug treatment/eradication for home owners
• Bed bug treatment for rental situation - assistance may be issued to cover the reasonable costs incurred by the tenants for bed bug treatment (including mattress covers and additional laundry costs)
• Household items - reasonable costs to be considered for those who are leaving shelter services, discharge from the hospital, discharge from incarceration, or cases of separation where a person is establishing a new residence (i.e. pots, pans, dishes, cutlery, bedding, linen, etc)

Family Services

• access support through referrals from our organization
• provides help with applications for birth certificates and other I.D.
• programs to assist with utility bills, dental health and more
• provides information and resources that help address the root causes of food insecurity
• connect people with the programs and organizations
• Hydro Leap and Ontario Energy Savings Programs
• refers families requesting Christmas basket, toys for children or clothing to local organizations
• provides referrals to Snow Suit and Winter Coat program for children

The Income Security Program is comprised of:

Money Management: One on one confidential review of income and expenses and the management of them. They work with the individual to help create a workable budget and supply tips on how to better manage finances. Referral to Credit Counselling if appropriate. Group workshops on Money Management are also available.

Community Volunteer Income Tax Program: Trained volunteers complete basic returns for low income individuals and families who cannot complete taxes on their own and can't afford to pay for the service. Individuals and families get their refund, GST/HST credits, Child Tax Benefits and even get on the Voters list. Most returns are e-filed.

Forms Completion: Help to ensure that individuals and families receive all benefits they may be eligible for including Disability Forms (Ontario Disability Support Program-ODSP); CPP-Disability; Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities (ACSD), and many other government forms.

Advocacy: Third party intervention to help solve programs that individuals are unable to solve on their own.

Referrals: Connecting people to other services where appropriate-especially for self advocacy.

Low-Income Energy Assistance Program: This program ensures the residents have opportunities to successfully sustain their housing and to maintain their utilities in periods of energy crisis through education and advocacy, facilitating applications to provincial and municipal emergency funds and by supplying residents with current energy conservation information.

Ontario Electricity Support Program: this program provides support to clients to access a credit on their utility bill.

The Help Centre delivers a wide variety of services and programs that are not addressed by other government or social service agencies.

THC assists Northumberland low-income residents with:

• Navigating through the social service system
• Completing government forms
• Advocating with other community agencies and organizations
• Money Management (budgeting and financial literacy)
• Helping with the preparation of income tax returns
• Meal planning and grocery shopping assistance, senior check in for seniors
• Providing one-on-one tutoring to residents who would like to improve their language skills
• Providing English as a Second Language classes for newcomers
• Drop off location for translations (any language)
• Assisting through financial grants or advocating with the utility company
• Free photocopying and faxing
• Providing information and referrals
• Distributing back packs for kids and food hampers for families
• Supporting clients to find affordable housing

See separate listings for:

• Housing Support
• Income Assistance
  
  Outreach program allows THC to provide programs and services throughout the county. Campbellford, Brighton, Colborne, Warkworth, Port Hope, Alderville are the locations where THC delivers its services at the community hub offices

COVID-19 (14 Oct 2021): Food pantry services are available by appointment by calling 613-548-4411. Currently, clients complete a Client Choice Food Pantry list over the telephone when booking appointment. Vouchers for clothing, furniture may not be available during covid restrictions. Registration and access for Christmas Hamper Program is available at this location.

Access to community support

• emergency assistance for food
• Housing and Homelessness Help Programs (rent, mortgage, moving, and utilities)
• Supervised Child Access Program
• family tracing
• pastoral care
• Christmas hampers (69035078)
• Toy Drive (69035078)

See separate program listings for more information

Temporary financial assistance and employment supports to those most in need residing in the City of Kingston and County of Frontenac while they undertake requirements to become and stay employed

Financial Assistance
Monthly financial assistance is available to eligible (needs tested) residents for basic needs and shelter. The amount of assistance paid is determined by family size, income and expenses.

Employment Assistance
Employment supports are available to help people become and stay employed. Funding and assistance may be available for community and employment placement, job searching, basic education or job-specific skills training, literacy training, supports to self-employment, Employment Readiness Scale, transportation, referrals to workshops and courses, Learning, Earning and Parenting (LEAP - a program offered to young parents) and addictions treatment.

Mandatory Benefits
Benefits prescribed in the Ontario Works provincial regulations include a prescription drug coverage, vision care for dependent children, special diet, pregnancy nutritional allowance, diabetic supplies, incontinence supplies, medical travel and transportation, and guide dog allowance.

Discretionary Benefits:
Discretionary Health Benefits may include: adult vision and dental care, health and well-being benefits, new born / child benefits, and other items such as ID replacements.
Discretionary Residency Benefits may include: funding towards rent arrears, utility arrears, last month's rent deposit, moving expenses and emergency heating fuel.

Emergency Assistance
Emergency assistance may be paid to a person experiencing an extreme, urgent, and unusual situation that jeopardizes the health and well-being of a member of the benefit unit, where all other financial means have been explored and exhausted.

Interactive Voice Response (IVR) 1-800-808-2268 -- automated information and payment details, payment history, file status * information and announcements about Ontario Works * service not available to TTY users

Welfare Fraud Hotline 1-800-394-7867 -- to report allegations of fraudulent collection of Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program assistance

Assists people living in the City and County of Peterborough to get or keep their housing. Help may be available for paying overdue bills, rent, and other housing-related costs.
Those with a low income and at risk of losing their housing may be eligible.
Some examples of eligible housing costs are:

• Heat, hydro or rent arrears
• Mortgage or tax arrears
• Last month's rent
• Beds, bed covers, mattresses and box springs
• Emergency home repairs
• Replacing or purchasing appliances
• Moving or storage costs

Offers programs and services to assist individuals and families in need. Most services require booking an appointment in advance

Breakfast Program - offers free hot breakfast. Visitors welcomed and serviced at Aylmer St door

Christmas Assistance Program - Annual toy and food drive to assist low income families during the holidays, see separate 211 listing for details

Emergency Disaster Service - Volunteer action and relief projects when disaster strikes

Food Bank/Family/Individual Emergency Assistance - Assists people in need with food and other related items. Call to make an appointment to access food bank and other emergency assistance

Financial Management Program - Offers financial management services for Ontario Disability and Ontario Works clients who are unable to manage their own financial matters

Newborn Program - An emergency gift layette parcel for newborns leaving hospital. Includes outfit, diapers, wipes, blanket as available. Mothers of newborns receive information about additional help after leaving the hospital.

Referral Services - Referrals to other community programs and services as appropriate

Summer Camp - for children

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

Assistance with heat and hydro emergencies including:

• financial problem solving
• grants
• firewood delivery
• advocacy with utility companies
• intake for OESP and LEAP applications
• referrals and information on other services and information on consumer rights
• support for access to benefits (photocopying, making phone calls, completing forms)
• some assistance with service navigation available

Provides administrative and financial support for Rent Geared-to-Income (RGI) housing providers in Lanark County

• Housing units vary in size from bachelor apartments to five-bedroom townhouses
• units located in Almonte, Carleton Place, Clayton, Perth, Pakenham and Smiths Falls.
• Some units are accessible.
• Emergency assistance for low income households to pay overdue rent or utilities
• homeownership loans
• loan for necessary home repairs for low income residents
• Adult Supportive Housing Program

Housing Assistance Program (HAP):

• financial assistance for homeless individuals or people at risk of homelessness
• Up to $1500 once per year
• funds are issued directly to a company/landlord/service provider and can assist with utility arrears, last months' rent for mandatory moves, hoarding/bed bug clean up, minor home repairs, etc.

COVID-19 (November 2, 2020): Community & Family Services will remain open

Family services

• financial assistance such as rent arrears, utility assistance, dentures, glasses, medication, etc.
• emergency food bag every two months
• children's summer camp

Advocacy Office to apply for LEAP (Low-Income Energy Assistance Program) one-time emergency financial assistance

• program runs throughout the year
• maximum grant is $500 per fuel per household per year ($600 for electrically heated homes)
• grant is credited directly toward energy bill
• agency can arrange a 21-day hold on a disconnection notice while a case is being assessed
• all decisions can be appealed

Assistance with bill payment

• one-time bill credit of up to $150

Provides assistance to residents 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

Income support

• monthly financial assistance and benefits such as a drug card for prescribed drugs
• mobility devices, batteries and repair
• dental care
• vision care benefit and hearing aids
• health related benefits
• extended health benefits Benefits also include assistive devices
• guide dogs
• utilities
• employment start-up benefit
• child care costs
• mandatory special necessities -- includes diabetic supplies, surgical supplies and dressings, transportation to medical treatment if cost exceeds $15 in a month

Employment support

• provides services to remove barriers to competitive employment and to assist people with disabilities to attain competitive employment
• employment planning and preparation
• skills training
• job placement
• self employment assistance
• adaptive technologies for training/employment
• program is voluntary to all persons with disabilities