Searching for Street Outreach

The Centre supports diverse populations - all ages and stages of life, with a focus on those who experience challenges and barriers to accessing care (including those living in poverty, experiencing homelessness, substance use issues, mental health concerns).

Free Online Mental Wellness supports are available:
BQWCHC Online Mental Wellness Supports


Healthy Living Groups and Support Programs Calendars:
BQWCHC Community Calendars

The Centre supports diverse populations - all ages and stages of life, with a focus on those who experience challenges and barriers to accessing care (including those living in poverty, experiencing homelessness, substance use issues, mental health concerns).

Free Online Mental Wellness supports are available:
BQWCHC Online Mental Wellness Supports


Healthy Living Groups and Support Programs Calendars:
BQWCHC Community Calendars

Organization that offers warmth, friendship, hot drinks, hot meals, warm clothing, blankets, and sleeping bags to the homeless

• volunteers are on site each night to offer support and resources

COVID-19 (23 Apr 2020): Centre remains open until further notice.

Current, affordable housing listings * voice mail services * mail agreements * public phone * computer access * prevention and diversion services

COVID-19 (July 14, 2020): Covid-19 procedures to enter these premises are in place - hand sanitization, wearing of masks, taking of temperatures, and recording contact information

Variety of services related to seeking, gaining or maintaining affordable housing in Kingston

• Housing Help Centre
• two emergency shelters
• two supportive housing programs
• prevention diversion and housing first services
• youth hub
• street outreach
• see separate listings for details

Provides outreach and support programs, initiatives to prevent homelessness, and funding for shelters.

Services include:
Social Services Homelessness Team - case managers complete outreach to the emergency shelters, housing programs, and street outreach to assist with:

• case coordination
• applications for social assistance
• access to benefits

Emergency After Hours Service provides assistance and referrals by phone for anyone seeking emergency shelter after hours. For non-emergency inquiries or for assistance during office hours, call the regular office phone number.

Also provides funding for the following services:

• Brock Mission for men
• Cameron House for women
• YES Shelter for Youth and Families
• Overflow Shelter providing a temporary place to eat, sleep, and receive personal supports
• Crossroads Shelter offering 24-hour emergency shelter for women and children fleeing from violence

Rent supplements: administered through community partners or attached to youth or chronic homelessness housing programs

Clinical addiction and mental health services at the emergency shelters

Christian charity provides emergency shelter, food, clothing and support to the local community.

• see separate listings for men's and women's shelters (Brock Mission and Cameron House)

Mobile street outreach program

• team consists of community-based outreach worker and a health promoter
• serve as point of first contact for individuals who are unsheltered and vulnerable and help to provide connections to outreach services
• outreach worker and health promoter also provide support, education and training to businesses in the area

Services and supports include

• on-site Social Worker
• counselling (online)
• intervention and prevention focused activities and programs for at-risk youth
• ID Support
• hygiene & baby products
• shower and washer, dryer
• use of telephone, photocopier, fax, printer
• addictions and parenting programs
• special interest programs art, camping
• cell phones can be charged depending on availability, please let staff know that you would like to charge before plugging in

Services include:

• mental health support
• medical clinic for primary care and psychiatric support
• Hep C testing
• addiction counselling and support with withdrawal management
• harm reduction supplies
• housing navigation and shelter referrals
• financial support (Ontario Works)
• peer support and outreach
• access to in-person Victim Services

On-site partners include

• Mission United Durham Program
• Canadian Mental Health Association Durham
• Lakeridge Health -Durham Mental Health Services
• Lakeridge Health- Pinewood Centre
• Ontario Works
• Primary Care Outreach Program
• Community Care Durham
• Community Development Council Durham
• AIDS Committee of Durham Region
• Carea Community Health Centre
• John Howard Society of Durham Region
• Victim Services of Durham Region

Additional supports available (see separate Food Pantry and Clothing listing):

• pantry and clothing items
• daily meals
• washrooms available
• showers by appointment
• cell phone charging and phone access available

Mobile outreach services from an Advance Care Paramedic and Social Worker working with community partners to deliver services and help individuals connect with community supports

Advance Care Paremedic ​provides

• assessments, triage and interventions, including blood glucose testing for diabetic clients
• medical counselling, and referrals for medical care
• other supports for physical health

Social Worker provides

• client engagement and assessment
• service navigation and referrals to community supports, such as addiction and mental health agencies, and counselling for crises, depression, substance abuse, attempted suicide, trauma and other health concerns

10-bed housing-focused emergency shelter

• shower and washroom facilities, hygiene products, clothing
• meals, food bank
• assist youth in finding permanent housing
• housing outreach and support
• assistance obtaining benefits and advocacy negotiating social service system
• access to telephone and internet
• intensive case management

Homeless Veterans program

• seeks to ensure that every Veteran who is homeless or near homeless finds the help they need to leave the streets behind

Assists with:

• medical needs
• assistive devices
• emergency transportation
• emergency assistance
• access to addiction programs
• rental payments
• furnishings
• moving expenses
• utility payments
• shelter
• food

Mobile service providing all essentials

• truck in downtown Ajax - plaza at 120 Harwood Avenue South
• from meals and sleeping bags to winter clothing and backpacks
• if there is a need, will work to address it
• available to assist agencies in emergency situations

Youth centre that provides various educational, social, recreational and cultural activities, programs and projects.


Ongoing programming includes:

• homework help
• computer and Internet access
• recreational and sports activities
• arts and crafts
• youth leadership program
• community outreach program
• meal program
• lifeskills programs
• Skills Link employment prep program
• safe community partnerships
• referral services
• Spring break, Summer and Xmas Break Camps
• KIDZ In The Kitchen Program

See website for full description of programs and activities

COVID19 Housing and other workers can be reached by telephone, fax or email; group programs, and community support and outreach offices temporarily closed

Assistance for women in accessing and maintaining safe, affordable housing, and in developing community support networks, including support for women with children who have experienced or survived violence, practical support to women who have been homeless or lived in poverty for a long period, assistance for women with mental health or substance abuse issues to live independently in the community, and support for women with disabilities

• information, referrals, community links including immigration and legal information
• family advocacy
• individual and group support
• workshops and seminars
• community development and outreach

Transitional Housing Support Program
Includes assistance with application process for subsidized housing in Toronto, as well as Durham, Peel and York regions

• safety planning, crisis support, advocacy
• connections to community resources
• assistance with finding furniture and household items

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, financial problem-solving, income tax clinic, budgeting

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

Counselling and case management, support groups and one-to-one mentoring, including programs for young parents 14-25 years

• leadership training and workshops
• employment readiness, job-skills training, employment placement and entrepreneurship
• neighbourhood, school and street outreach
• recreation for children and youth
• programs held at various locations
• volunteer opportunities
• Christian perspective, non-denominational

Light Patrol, lightpatrol.ca
Outreach programs including Curb Light Homeless Youth Outreach, Health Light Street Health Unit, Light House for street involved or homeless young women, and youth transitional support

Rahab Ministry, RahabMinistry.ca
For women in the sex trade, and victims of human trafficking, includes WrapAround care, volunteer opportunities, speakers

• crisis management
• individual and family counselling
• support groups
• immigration information and referrals
• ESL tutoring
• outreach and support

Francophone community health centre

Health and Medical Services

• family physicians, medical clinics and nursing care
• home visits by nurses
• dietitians and nutrition counselling
• anonymous HIV testing
• diabetes education program
• 24-hour medical hot-line
• immunization
• free diagnostic and specialist services for uninsured immigrants without legal status

French Social/Medical Interpreter Service

• interpretation in hospitals, clinics or doctors' offices
• homeless outreach and intervention
• assistance in obtaining identification
• advice on obtaining social assistance through Ontario Works
• mental health therapy, counselling and outreach for individuals, couples, families and groups
• crisis intervention
• relaxation group
• counselling and outreach for people with severe and persistent mental health issues

Covid19 -- all LOFT seniors and 24/7 adult supportive housing locations will only allow "essential" visitors until further notice (those who have a resident who is dying or very ill) * community and residential supports will continue


Mobile service Van

• mental health and nursing assessment/care
• crisis support, intervention and prevention
• condoms, needle exchange
• assistance in finding shelter and transport for first-time access to shelter, and survival supplies like food, clothing, sleeping bags, tarps and tents
• information and referral

Deliver harm reduction materials and resources to people who use drugs and live in our catchment area * supplies and resources include new, sterile needles, distilled water, tournies, cookers, safer crack stems, filters, as well as injection and smoking kits, delivered through unmarked personal vehicles to your home or a coffee shop

Referrals offered upon request * supplies delivered within 20 to 40 minutes of a call depending on the weather and the number of calls received

Access to a range of harm reduction supplies and materials and equipment including needles and syringes, safer crack kits, safer crystal meth kits; safer injection kits, stems screens etc * also provide harm reduction informant and education, and referrals to a wide range of services and resources

COUNTERfit Fixed Site - Access to a range of harm reduction supplies, materials and equipment including needles and syringes, safer crack kits, safer crystal meth kits, safer injection kits, stems screens, etc * provide harm reduction informant and education, and referrals to a range of services and resources

COUNTERfit Women's Harm Reduction Program - Support for marginalized women who use drugs * provide a safe space for open discussion, access to health care, engagement in harm reduction and provide employment and training opportunities

Harm Reduction Mobile Outreach - Deliver harm reduction materials and resources to people who use drugs and live in our catchment area * supplies and resources include new, sterile needles, distilled water, tournies, cookers, safer crack stems, filters, as well as injection and smoking kits, delivered through unmarked personal vehicles to your home or a coffee shop

KeepSIX Consumption and Treatment Service (CTS) - COUNTERfit Harm Reduction program's Supervised Consumption Services

Toronto Community Hepatitis C Program (TCHCP) - Support , education and treatment to people living with or at risk of acquiring Hepatitis C infection

Counselling and family support services, including child and adolescent therapy, anger management, court diversion services, youth day camp, outreach to street youth, and professional consultation and support program for community agencies

Family Support Program
Assessment and treatment planning, crisis intervention, and individual therapy for children, youth and adults

• child management sessions
• strategies for enriching school performance
• aftercare follow-up for youth discharged from residential treatment or foster care
• parenting courses for teen mothers and families with young children or teens

Child and Adolescent Therapy Program
Individual and family therapy, and parent consultation, for children and youth 3-16 years who are coping with anxiety, ADHD, grief and loss, poor self-esteem, bullying, abuse and trauma, and adjustment challenges to significant changes such as moving, new school, adoption or foster care, or birth of a sibling

• play therapy
• cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT)
• trauma-focused cognitive-behavioural therapy (TF-CBT)

Anger Management Clinic
11-week individual or group course on personal control for children, youth and adults

Get Off The Streets (GOTS)
7-week summer day camp program for youth 13-19 years in designated high risk areas, includes leadership, mentoring, life and social skills, includes sports, outings and cultural events, and volunteer hours opportunity for high school students

JumpAhead After School Program
For students 12-18 years, includes development of social and academic skills, and therapeutic support to transition from elementary to high school and navigate social situations

COVID19 -- Contact Health Connection for more information


Street Outreach Van (operated by LOFT/Crosslinks) provides services at convenient locations throughout York Region

• basic needs items such as food, clothing and shoes, sleeping bags, tents, tarps and blankets
• needle exchange supplies and information
• mental health and addiction resources including crisis support, intervention and prevention
• referrals to shelters and other community supports
• sexual health information and resources

Drop-In

• breakfast, lunch
• access to clothing bank, shower and telephone
• legal help
• information about Ontario Works (OW) and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
• community outreach