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Legal Aid Ontario

• see Client Services during COVID-19
• Legal Aid Ontario has suspended all in-person services at all office and court locations
• during closure call Client Service Centre at 1-800-668-8258 (Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm) to apply for legal aid, inquire about application status, and summary legal advice for criminal or family law matters

Advice Lawyer for Family Law and Family Law Information Centres

• Legal Aid Ontario has suspended all in-person advice at Family Law Information Centres (FLIC)
• Clients can access family advice counsel services in the Central East District by calling new toll free line 1-888-616-0119 ext 18 and in the alternative will also be directed to contact the Client Service Centre at 1-800-668-8258
• Ontario Superior Court of Justice will only be hearing matters that are deemed urgent in nature
• Protocols will be established to have matters filed electronically at the courthouse and hearings to take place by either video or teleconference depending on local availability

Employment and Housing Help

• Call Community Legal Clinic Mon-Fri 9 am-5 pm at 705-326-6444 or Toll Free 1-800-461-8953
• Consult Steps to Justice Housing Law for answers to questions you might have

Courthouses

• visit COVID-19 Tribunals and Courts
• visit Superior Court of Justice and Ontario Court of Justice for detailed information

Emergency Court Services

• Criminal and family courts are still open but emergency family matters and criminal matters for clients who are in custody will come first
• To find out if your matter is urgent, visit the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court of Justice websites or contact your lawyer or legal representative
• if you don't have a lawyer or legal representative, you can now get summary legal advice for your criminal and family matter over the phone without having to qualify, see Summary Legal Advice Services during COVID-19 pandemic

Refugee and Immigration Offices

• Refugee and immigration offices are operating by phone only from Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4:30 pm
• Toronto Refugee Law Office (GTA, all areas except Hamilton and Ottawa)
• Toronto: 416-977-8111
• Toll-free: 1-855-854-8111
• visit COVID-19 Immigration and Refugee Law

Ontario Review Board

• visit the Ontario Review Board website for updates and information

Consent and Capacity Board

• hearings are being held by teleconference but some limited matters will be held by video, further details will be included with your notice of hearing
• visit the Consent and Capacity Board website for information

Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO)

• funded by Legal Aid Ontario, the Law Foundation of Ontario and Department of Justice Canada
• provides reliable legal information on income assistance, landlord and tenant law, refugee and immigration law, employment law, family law, domestic and elder abuse, education, debt and consumer rights and collection agencies, health and disability, some criminal issues
• visit Steps for Justice for online legal information and critical changes or updates to government or court services, supports, laws, and regulations as they relate to COVID-19
• visit COVID-19 News Updates from CLEO for up-to-date information on changes in government programs and court services.
• live chat available English: Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri 11 am-1 pm, 2 pm-4 pm * Thu 11 am-1 pm, 7 pm-9 pm
  French: Mon-Fri 11 am-12 noon

Additional Information:

• Better Business Bureau Ontario COVID-19
• Price Gouging during COVID-19, Consumers can report an individual who is price gouging by filing a complaint at 1-800-889-9768 Mon-Fri from 8:30 am-5:00 pm or by filing a report online

COVID-19 Response

• All offices are closed to in-person meetings and services; in-person legal education and outreach activities have been suspended
• For legal services in Simcoe County call 705-326-6444 or 1-800-461-8953 Mon-Fri 9 am-12 noon, 1 pm-5 pm
• For legal services in Haliburton, Lindsay and Minden call Lisa Loader at 1-800-461-8953 Ext. 42 or email lisa.loader@shkl.clcj.ca
• Offices in Haliburton, Lindsay and Minden are open by appointment only

Regular Service
Services include:

• Disability Issues
• Income Maintenance (Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program)
• Aboriginal Justice Outreach Program
• Worker's Compensation
• Housing
• Employment
• Human Rights
• Consumer Law
• Education
• Canada Pension Disability
• Services offered over the telephone and by appointment
• Guest speakers available for community and education purposes
• Notary Public
• Commissioner of Oaths (all lawyers are Commissioners of Oaths)
• Duty Counsel for the Landlord and Tenant Board
• Do not provide family law or criminal law services

COVID19 -- lawyers and students working remotely but ID clinic and satellite locations not able to operate, call or email office for information

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CLASP -- legal services and representation provided by supervised law student volunteers

• areas of law includes academic appeals, human rights applications, immigration and refugee, minor criminal offences, record suspension applications, police complaints, school issues, Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and Employment Insurance (EI), tenant issues
• ID clinic and tax dispute clinic
• public legal education workshops

Satellite locations including Metro North Courthouse, Rexdale Community Legal Services and Yorkgate Mall

COVID19 -- open but no walk in appointments, call first

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Community legal clinic

• deals primarily with tenant issues, social assistance, Ontario Disability Support Program, pensions, Employment Insurance
• provides advice in workers rights, immigration and family law
• may provide representation
• summary advice in domestic violence cases
• community education
• speakers
• law reform
• referrals
• affidavits for Toronto Community Housing Corporation, cooperative housing, child care, Ontario Student Assistance Program
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

COVID19

• services available in-person, online and by phone/email during office hours
• operating on a hybrid model, providing all services and programs online and in-person
• for more information on programs and services, please check website
• please wear a mask to the office to keep it a safe, healthy environment - thanks for the cooperation

Employment Services

• one on one employment counselling
• resume clinic, interview skills
• career training referrals, career networking club
• employment workshops, job fair

Family Services

• counselling for individuals, families, couples
• safety plan development for victims of domestic violence, transition planning and housing support
• referrals to community services, legal information
• educational workshops
• self-help group

Health Services

• education and information seminars
• mobile health clinic for cervical cancer screening, Pap tests, screening for sexually transmitted infections
• breast cancer support group

Settlement Services

• one-on-one orientation or workshops, form filling, interpretation and translation, citizenship preparation, referrals

Social Services

• assistance in accessing social assistance and other services
• recreational and educational programs to reduce social isolation
• translation and interpretation
• seasonal income tax clinic

COVID19 -- - serving clients by phone, client visits assessed on case by case basis

• walk-in service, notarization, commissioning of documents and public legal education and outreach activities suspended

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Community legal clinic

• deals primarily with social assistance, Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Canada Pension Plan, tenant issues, immigration, Employment Insurance (EI)
• notary public
• commissioner of oaths
• statutory declarations
• affidavits
• may provide representation
• assistance with community group organizing
• law reform
• community education
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

COVID19

• services available in-person, online and by phone/email during office hours
• operating on hybrid model, providing all services and programs online and in person
• for more information on programs and services, please check website
• please wear a mask to the office to keep it a safe, healthy environment - thanks for the cooperation

Employment Services

• one on one employment counselling,
• resume clinic, interview skills,
• career training referrals, career networking club
• employment workshops, job fair

Family Services

• counselling for individuals, families, couples
• safety plan development for victims of domestic violence, transition planning and housing support
• referrals to community services
• legal information
• educational workshops
• self-help group

Health Services

• education and information seminars
• mobile health clinic for cervical cancer screening, Pap tests, screening for sexually transmitted infections
• breast cancer support group

Settlement Services

• one-on-one orientation or workshops,
• form filling, interpretation and translation, citizenship preparation, referrals

Social Services

• assistance in accessing social assistance and other services
• recreational and educational programs to reduce social isolation
• translation and interpretation
• seasonal income tax clinic

COVID-19 -- no walk-in service, appointments by telephone, in person appointments can be scheduled after initial call

• free legal services in the areas of social assistance, housing, employment, Employment Insurance, immigration, and human rights
• call 416-741-5201 or email at gen1@rex.clcj.ca
• family law -- call Metro Toronto Family Law Services 416-696-2992 or email gentnfcs@lao.on.ca

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Community legal clinic

• summary advice and legal information
• deals primarily with disability benefits, immigration, social assistance, tenant issues, employment law and worker's rights
• also family law -- call for appointment
• referrals
• community education
• ID Clinic
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

Community and support services

• information and referrals, and settlement services
• supportive counselling
• employment and job search assistance
• legal information, assistance applying for benefits, and year round tax clinic
• youth tutoring and homework club, student mentoring programs
• senior community involvement programs
• interpretation service for Tamil community, including accompaniment to appointments
• health education, community outreach
• social and recreation events and activities

COVID19 -- No in person meetings, providing services including intake by phone, emergencies assessed on case by case basis

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Advice and representation in areas of social assistance, Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), sponsorships, immigration law

• legal information and education
• referral of legal cases
• advocacy
• seminars, workshops
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

Forced Marriage -- website with information and resources on forced marriages * information for individuals and service providers

Assists with applications for Canadian and other pensions and benefits

• information on passports, permanent resident cards, income taxes, legal issues, Italian properties, power of attorney and succession

Community legal clinic

• deals primarily with tenant issues, social assistance, employment problems, immigration, Employment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, human rights, victims of violence, and consumer issues
• provides referral, advice and representation
• community education
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

Assists with applications for Canadian and other countries' pensions and benefits

• information on passports, permanent resident cards, income taxes, legal issues, Italian properties, power of attorney and succession

Settlement Services

• immigration and sponsorship issues
• job training; business and community economic development
• anti-racism program
• health and nutrition information
• accompaniment to services; translation and interpretation
• housing referrals; legal information
• newcomer mental health advice, support and referrals
• culturally appropriate family counselling

Participates in LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) in English, upon assessment by YMCA of Greater Toronto (see separate listing); childminding available

Program Without Walls - Saturday nutrition/cooking program at various locations; volunteer opportunities

Seniors Program - nutrition, health awareness, workshops, recreation

COVID19 -- Housing support services currently offered in-person with all COVID19 safety protocols

Community services

• information and referral
• filling out forms
• tenant issues, legal information, advocacy
• resume assistance, computer skills development
• HIV/AIDS harm reduction program
• outreach to injection drug users within a harm reduction model
• outreach to homeless people
• community development
• income tax clinic
• volunteer opportunities
• newspaper

Free legal answers covering 2,100 topics on provincial and federal laws, available by website

• referrals
• publishes legal guides and Your Guide to Canadian Law

COVID-19 -- services continue to be provided over the phone, office open to members of the public by appointment only

• new clients call 416-438-7182, existing clients call 416-438-7206

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Community legal clinic, areas of law include:

• housing (tenants issues, does not include issues at co-operative housing)
• Ontario Works (OW), Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Employment Insurance (EI), Canada Pension Plan (disability)
• employment law
• immigration law

Clinic may provide:

• representation or tools for clients to self-represent effectively
• community education
• referrals to other clinics or community services
• assistance in community group development and organizing

Funded by Legal Aid Ontario

Helps individuals access their employment rights, human rights, income benefits and government programs like EI, WSIB, CPP, ODSP and OW

Protection provided through issue identification, early intervention, problem solving, form filling and letter writing, informal mediation and representation up to and including mediation

• comprehensive referrals to human care and social services in Peel Region

Community education

• training and workshops in employment rights, human rights and health and safety

COVID19 -- Many services continue to be available to clients by phone (and if necessary, as determined by the Unison provider/staff, in person); call 416-653-5400 for more information

• Legal Services: phone only, 416-653-5400 ext. 1244
• Housing Services: phone only, 416-653-5400 ext. 1306 and leave a message
• Harm Reduction: phone only, 647-999-3094

Community Health Centre

• health services, health promotion
• community services and community development
• Ontario Health Insurance NOT required for general services

Health Services

• family practice including crisis pregnancy, family planning, management of chronic conditions, prenatal and postnatal care, preventative health care, seniors' health, sexual health
• individual and sexuality counselling, treatment of sexually transmitted diseases
• counselling and case management
• dietitian
• podiatry clinic

Health Promotion

• breastfeeding clinic
• child and parenting programs, including Spanish-speaking groups
• Diabetes Education Centre
• harm reduction programs
• seniors programs
• Toronto Public Health dental clinic
• women's programs
• youth programs

Community Services

• Adult Protective Service program for adults with developmental disabilities
• community kitchen

Housing Help Centre

• client advocacy
• crisis referral to shelters
• eviction prevention
• housing search
• information and referral
• landlord outreach
• negotiation with landlords
• Share the Warmth
• Housing Connections Access Centre
• other Home Services -- rent bank and Streets to Homes Follow-up services

Access Centre 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 legal clinic, deals primarily with

• Employment Law
• Housing Law
• Immigration and Refugee
• Human Rights (limited)
• Income Supports - Ontario Works (OW), Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP),Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS)
• Affidavits and Notarial True Copies
• referrals
• community education
• community development
• legal reform
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

Ralph Thornton Community Centre -- 765 Queen St E by appointment only, call Intake Line

Career guidance and management

• awareness and prevention (HIV/AIDS)
• family law
• cultural workshops
• café des femmes

Community legal clinic

• deals primarily with tenant issues, social housing/Toronto Community Housing Corporation, Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program appeals, Canada Pension Plan Disability benefits, employment law, worker's rights, Employment Insurance, Old Age Security, family law, immigration, human rights
• may provide representation
• community education
• by appointment only
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

COVID19 -- virtual support over the phone, call main office or email; will reply in an hour; in-person support also available; masks provided
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Migration

• legal information and support on immigration and refugee issues, work permits, student permits, permanent resident applications, and other issues
• new clients may drop in Mondays 9:30 am-4 pm

Refugee Hearing and Appeal Preparation (Ready Tour) - helping claimants through every step of the process

Settlement Shelter

• transitional housing for refugee claimant women and children, capacity 30 for stays up to 12 months
• help with the refugee process, including legal, mental health, social services and other referrals
• support and accompaniment to appointments

Food Distribution and Income Security Program - food hampers for households in the Greater Toronto area

Primary Health Care Clinic - by appointment; no Ontario Health Insurance required

Support Groups and Activities for Women

English Language Learning (ELL)

Youth Program -- for newcomer youth regardless of immigration status offering mutual support, volunteering and skills development, social and sports activities, Wednesdays 4 pm-6 pm

Services for Victims/Survivors of Human Trafficking -- holistic support and a full range of services through the process including orientation, legal information, immigration options, housing, employment support, and counselling

Migrant Protection Clinic Program

• travelling clinic where FCJ staff help local agency staff to conduct a clinic
• help for migrants needing support
• coaching for local staff to understand immigration processes

Migrants Workers Program -- 647-971-2153, call or through WhatsApp

• mobile service to support migrant workers by informing them about labour and immigration laws, human rights, and community supports

Public Education -- workshops for service providers and others on legal information needs of refugee claimants and non-status people and on immigration and refugee procedures, publications, public speakers

Drop-in

• social and recreational programs
• life skills
• community and health information
• peer advocates provide help with social assistance, housing and legal issues

Member agency of Toronto Drop-in Network (TDIN)