Searching for Credit Counselling

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

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

Debt management and consolidation programs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Community support

• community information and referral
• assistance in filling out government and housing forms, call for information
• income tax clinic
• phone and mail registry service
• computer, Internet and email access
• online resource directory
• case management
• advocacy
• peer-supported community events/festivals and hobby groups

Housing Trusteeship Services -- money management services to help clients pay rent on time

• financial literacy skills
• landlord and tenant mediation
• follow-up support and community links

Toronto Rent Bank, 416-397-7368 -- Neighbourhood Information Post program coordinating agency

• grants to low-income households who are in rental arrears or need to move into more suitable housing

Energy Assistance Programs -- financial assistance to low income individuals and families who are in arrears for their utility bills, and have exhausted all other sources of financial support

Assistance with applications for OESP (Ontario Electricity Support Program) -- monthly credit applied to electricity bill for eligible customers based on household income and size

Member agency of Toronto Drop-in Network (TDIN)

Community services

• counselling information and referral services
• volunteer tutors for children and youth
• voluntary trusteeship program
• free Internet access
• seasonal income tax clinic

Children's programs

• social and recreation activities after school program summer day camp
• Kidz Klub

Youth programs

• social recreation arts and education activities
• Boyz 2 Men -- dance club/li liweekend activities
• GEMS (Girls Empowerment for More Success) Jr.-- sports leadership arts and social activities homework help games outings and group discussion

Women's program

• weekly group program including life skills, information and support in several languages
• East African Women's Circle, violence prevention program
• conversation club
• free childminding available

Parenting programs for women, free childminding usually available for participants

• family support program -- counselling on family issues

Easy access voicemail, call 416-925-4363 ext 103

• Monday, Wednesday 12:30 pm-3:30 pm
• persons without telephones receive voice mail number to retrieve messages from any touch-tone phone
• $10 for 3 months

Financial literacy -- unbiased and independent online financial tools, programs, information and blogs

• www.InspireFinancialLearning.ca -- financial literacy programs and tools for teachers, students and parents

Permanent supportive housing and mobile housing supports, including mental health supportive housing (HOST), addiction supportive housing (ASH), and group homes; includes intensive case management, trustee case management, independent living skills development, and art and recreation programs

• Scarborough group home living program includes 24 hour onsite staff support
• North York group home living program includes moderate support

Community based programs:

Trustee Case Management
Individualized financial planning and support, such as rent and bill payment, budgeting and savings, income collection, financial literacy skills development, and service referrals

Intensive Case Management
Long term individualized case management and mental health supports, including assistance in maintaining housing and mental and physical needs, essential life skills development, support in building connections

COVID19 Shelters and respite centres open

• takeaway breakfast available Friday 10 am at 30 St Lawrence
• takeaway dinner available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 6 pm at 30 St Lawrence
• no communal dining
• meals on wheels open, call for details
• some programs remain remote, other have begun in-person activities, check website for details

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Multiservice agency with programs for children, youth, adults, families and seniors, including social, recreation and education programs for individuals and families with low income

• summer day camp
• English as a Second Language (ESL) classes
• breakfast program Friday 10 am
• assistance with budgeting, identification, government forms Monday-Friday 1 pm-4 pm
• income tax clinic February-April
• community development
• youth health promotion worker
• employmentsServices including Literacy and Basic Skills

Dixon Hall Music School
Includes individual or group lessons, fees on a sliding scale

Seniors Services
Includes escort to medical appointments, friendly visiting, telephone security check, client intervention and assistance, health education, and social, recreation and fitness programs

• home support services includes homemaking services such as laundry, vacuuming, and light meal preparation (fee)
• Mandarin Outreach, including settlement and newcomer services, social and cultural events, support groups and workshops

Supportive Housing Programs for Seniors
Includes personal care, essential homemaking, emergency response, and care coordination

• 4 participating buildings including Old York Tower, Performing Arts Lodge of Canada, Older Women's Network Co-op, New Hibret Co-op

High Risk Youth Project
One-on-one peer counselling, and social, recreational, and educational activities

Growing Up Healthy Downtown for families of young people in Regent Park, see separate listing

​Member agency of Toronto Drop-in Network (TDIN)