Searching for Credit Counselling

The Credit Counselling Society offers programs, education and support from a credit counsellor for:

• Debt repayment
• Debt problems
• Money management
• Debt settlement
• Dealing with creditors
• Bankruptcy

Christians Against Poverty provides debt and credit counselling along with budgeting help through professional debt counsellors.

Services include:

• building budgets based on income and expenses
• negotiating with creditors to stop interest on debts

One-on-one financial counselling and financial literacy support.

Services include:

• Drafting and updating a household budget
• Organizing and explaining bills, paperwork, collection letters, government forms, credit reports
• Calls to creditors to negotiate debt repayment
• Calls to services and utilities to negotiate better service for the same or less cost (such as home phone, mobile phone, internet, etc.)
• Calls to government agencies to rectify issues or access new program supports
• Discussion and encouragement around modifying spending habits to better live within income assistance
• Assistance with application forms: government, housing supports, etc.

Stores and maintains credit information about individual Canadian consumers for use by members of the credit reporting agency

• provides credit reports to individuals upon request
• provides information about fraud prevention and assistance

Consumer Website: ocs.transunion.ca provides access to Consumer Disclosure Report, the option to add/modify a Potential Fraud Alert, and open up an Online Dispute

• also provides educational resources and tools to help gain a clear understanding of credit history and the impact of financial behaviour, and guard against identity theft and financial fraud

Credit Report: individuals may obtain their Consumer Disclosure Report (complete account of all the information on your credit report) free of charge online, by mail, in person or by phone

Credit Dispute: individuals who do not recognize information on their credit report, or believe an item may be inaccurate, may request a free investigation

• credit information may be disputed, or personal information updated, online, by phone or by mail (see website for form)

Community Family Services include:

• social services
• emergency food assistance
• Pathway of Hope
• spiritual counselling
• summer camp assistance
• budget counselling
• individual assistance on a case-by-case basis
• volunteer services
• referrals to all other Salvation Army institutions
• Christmas assistance program for families in need of support during Christmas

Services include:

• personal money management counselling by appointment
• mediation between debtor and creditor
• consumer debt repayment programs
• consumer credit education
• speakers available to employers, schools and community groups
• counsellors hold the professional designation of Accredited Financial Counsellor Canada (AFCC)

Objectives are to relieve poverty for people of all abilities, through programs like:

Food Bank

• see here for more details

Household Goods and Clothing

• when made aware of individual needs for clothing and household goods, OPNC post's those specific needs on Facebook page
• if you have items that you would like to donate, please contact in advance (do not drop off unless need is confirmed)
• annual winter coat drive

Finding Hope in Poverty Support Group

• free counselling and peer to peer support group
• Wed 10 am-11:30 am
• contact hope@opnc.ca

Year Round Income Tax Clinics

• see here for more details
• contact support@opnc.ca
• or visit haltontax.ca

Micro Finance Loans

• can assist with low interest loans for those who would not otherwise qualify (subject to approval)
• contact support@opnc.ca for appointments

Canada Learning Bond

• Free Government Money for your child's education
• visit smartsaver.org for more details

Utility Bill Payment Assistance

• for more information see, Gas & Hydro Bill Assistance - Oakville
• contact community@opnc.ca or phone 905 257 6029 ext 105 for assistance
• Leap provides a one-time emergency payment for hydro and gas low-income customers who are in areears
• In addition, The Ontario Energy support Proram provides a monthly grant on your hydro bill of up to $80 / month

Financial Management Support

• budgeting, information and referral for support
• Wed & Thu 11:30 am-2:30 pm

Assistive Devices

• small inventory of items to give those in need
• ability to provide funding to purchase items
• contact hello@opnc.ca

Objectives are to relieve poverty for people of all abilities, through programs like:

Food Bank

• see here for more details

Household Goods and Clothing

• when made aware of individual needs for clothing and household goods, OPNC post's those specific needs on Facebook page
• if you have items that you would like to donate, please contact in advance (do not drop off unless need is confirmed)
• annual winter coat drive

Finding Hope in Poverty Support Group

• free counselling and peer to peer support group
• Wed 10 am-11:30 am
• contact hope@opnc.ca

Year Round Income Tax Clinics

• see here for more details
• contact support@opnc.ca
• or visit haltontax.ca

Micro Finance Loans

• can assist with low interest loans for those who would not otherwise qualify (subject to approval)
• contact support@opnc.ca for appointments

Canada Learning Bond

• Free Government Money for your child's education
• visit smartsaver.org for more details

Utility Bill Payment Assistance

• for more information see, Gas & Hydro Bill Assistance - Oakville
• contact community@opnc.ca or phone 905 257 6029 ext 105 for assistance
• Leap provides a one-time emergency payment for hydro and gas low-income customers who are in areears
• In addition, The Ontario Energy support Proram provides a monthly grant on your hydro bill of up to $80 / month

Financial Management Support

• budgeting, information and referral for support
• Wed & Thu 11:30 am-2:30 pm

Assistive Devices

• small inventory of items to give those in need
• ability to provide funding to purchase items
• contact hello@opnc.ca

Debt management services include:

• navigating the process of filing for bankruptcy
  
• drafting a practical proposal to creditors (consumer proposal)
  
• developing better budgeting and money management skills through credit counselling
  
• connecting with other debt consultants and professional advisors in situations where filing for bankruptcy or making a proposal are not suitable solutions

Programs include:

Food Bank: Available once per month for perishable and non-perishable grocery pickup, and once per week for perishable items such as fresh produce, bread and any items we may have an excess of.

Housing: Provides support in completion of Niagara Regional Housing applications. Assesses the need for and makes referrals to partners and emergency shelters.

Utility Assistance: Provides intake for the Niagara Emergency Energy Fund (NEEF) for emergency financial assistance for low income households facing disconnection (gas or hydro). Also provides intake for the Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP) to lower electricity bills for low-income households.

Dental Assistance: Brushed Aside partner agency. Provide access to dental care for adults in need of dental treatment for pain/infection or dentures.

Identification Clinic: In partnership with Community Care St Catharines, assists clients with replacing birth certificates, citizenship cards, records of landing, marriage certificates, health cards, and delayed statements of birth. Clients can also access safe storage of identifications.

Trusteeship: In partnership with Community Care St Catharines, provides money management and direct distribution of funds to eligible clients.

Canadian Tire Jumpstart: Provides financially disadvantaged children, aged 4-18 years, with the opportunity to participate in sports and recreational activities.

Back to School Program: Provides a backpack filled with school supplies to children and youth from low-income families. Works in partnership with the Jumpstart Sneaker Program in providing a new pair of sneakers. Clients can call the main number or email clientservices@communitycarewn.ca to register.

Birthday Program: Registered clients can select gifts for their children's birthdays.

CCWN gratefully accepts donations of fresh perishable and nonperishable food items. Please drop off donations at receiving area (rear of building) Mon-Fri 9 am-4 pm.

Trustee in bankruptcy and consumer proposal administrator

• bankruptcy
  
• consumer proposal
  
• orderly payment of debts
  
• debt consolidation
  
• credit counselling
  
• informal debt settlement
  
• other options

Offers a full range of debt relief options, including consumer proposals, bankruptcy, and debt relief

Services offered:

• managing debt
• stop a wage garnishment
• stop collection calls
• eliminate credit card debt
• dealing with tax debt
• student loan debt relief

Provision of emergency food/grocery assistance

• assistance can be provided once every 60 days
• Christmas Hampers include grocery store gift cards and toys for low-income families (toys for children 0-11 years, a gift card for youth aged 12-14 years)
• Adventure camp (ages 6-15 years)
• backpacks for children and youth attending school
• informal counselling: (individual, family & budgeting)

Programs include:

Food Bank: Available once per month for perishable and non-perishable grocery pickup, and once per week for perishable items such as fresh produce, bread and any items we may have an excess of.

Housing: Provides support in completion of Niagara Regional Housing applications. Assesses the need for and makes referrals to partners and emergency shelters.

Utility Assistance: Provides intake for the Niagara Emergency Energy Fund (NEEF) for emergency financial assistance for low income households facing disconnection (gas or hydro). Also provides intake for the Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP) to lower electricity bills for low-income households.

Dental Assistance: Brushed Aside partner agency. Provide access to dental care for adults in need of dental treatment for pain/infection or dentures.

Identification Clinic: In partnership with Community Care St Catharines, assists clients with replacing birth certificates, citizenship cards, records of landing, marriage certificates, health cards, and delayed statements of birth. Clients can also access safe storage of identifications.

Trusteeship: In partnership with Community Care St Catharines, provides money management and direct distribution of funds to eligible clients.

Canadian Tire Jumpstart: Provides financially disadvantaged children, aged 4-18 years, with the opportunity to participate in sports and recreational activities.

Back to School Program: Provides a backpack filled with school supplies to children and youth from low-income families. Works in partnership with the Jumpstart Sneaker Program in providing a new pair of sneakers. Clients can call the main number or email clientservices@communitycarewn.ca to register.

Birthday Program: Registered clients can select gifts for their children's birthdays.

CCWN gratefully accepts donations of fresh perishable and nonperishable food items. Please drop off donations at receiving area (rear of building) Mon-Fri 9 am-4 pm.

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

Debt management and consolidation programs

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

Food Bank: Walk-in service and home delivery of food (fresh and non perishable) to registered families, individuals and seniors who qualify.

Snack Attack: Offers families with school-aged children better snack choices throughout the week. Snacks are obtained through donations and additional items are purchased.

Shelter/Utility Stability: Provide counsel, mediation and periodic short term financial aid to keep Lincoln residents in their current housing with utilities functioning.

Safe at Home: Provides home furnishings for those in and out of transitional housing and to families in need.

Services include:

• bi-monthly food hampers ; bread, baked goods and produce
• clothing, personal care items ; small household items
• baby items
• utility support ; transportation
• prescriptions ; glasses
• emergency accommodations ; mattresses
• referrals
• Christmas Hampers
• backpacks/School Supplies ; summer camp

Programs include

• Anger Management course
• Trustee program
• seniors' program -- social interaction, including a light lunch and education on various relevant topics such as internet safety, food education
• Pathway of Hope program -- a holistic approach to end poverty one person/family at a time
• back pack school program

Family services offering food bank, basic needs and support services to low-income individuals and families in crisis

Financial Partnership Program - a voluntary money management program available to individuals and families receiving Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program income

Other programs offered:

• Christmas hamper program
• anger management program
• conversation circle
• income tax clinic

Spiritwind Christian Centre (100 Crimea St) * Noah's Ark Childcare (95 Crimea St) * day care held on second floor of 95 Crimea St location (parking adjacent to 95 Crimea St)

* children and youth programs offered during worship service

Debt management and consolidation programs

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

Housing Services

• housing counselling
• information and referral
• matches tenants with landlords, eviction prevention, landlord outreach and recruitment, housing listings

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

Provides a free and confidential housing referral and consultation service.

Helps with:

• assistance and information to help solve housing problems
• people who are homeless or at risk of being homeless to find and maintain permanent accommodation within the local community
• landlords to find tenants and helps to resolve conflicts between landlords and tenants
• basic information on the Residential Tenancies Act

Also offers:

• money management - trusteeship service (including youth 16-24)
• regional identification clinic

Utility Assistance: Provides intake for the Niagara Emergency Energy Fund (NEEF) and the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) for emergency financial assistance for low income households facing disconnection (gas or hydro). Also provides intake for the Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP) to lower electricity bills for low-income households.

Emergency medical/dental vision care assistance available on case by case basis dependent on available funds (dental cleaning/scaling not applicable)

Life skills training includes Savoury Samplings Program & Community Gardens.

Back to School Snacks & Sneakers program in late August (backpacks and school supplies while supplies last)

Shelter issues are addressed through the Housing Help Program. Trusteeships are provided to those experiencing money management issues. Assistance with replacing ID for registered clients is available through the housing program.

Administers the Canadian Tire Jumpstart program for St Catharines residents. Jumpstart provides financially disadvantaged children, aged 4-18 years, with the opportunity to participate in sports and recreational activities. Call 905-685-1349 ext 228 for more information.