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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

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

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

COVID-19 (23 Apr 2020) 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

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

Homelessness Prevention Program

• financial assistance on a one-time basis for individuals that require support in becoming housed or to remain housed

Emergency shelter:

• temporary accommodation for families facing an emergency situation leading to loss of shelter
• maximum stay is 21 days

Homelessness Prevention Benefit:

• emergency funds provided to help low-income households, including social assistance recipients, facing housing related emergencies including energy arrears (energy arrears, including hydro, oil, and gas, as well as the costs for security deposits and reconnection fees)
• benefit is to address housing crises which have resulted in homelessness or which may lead to homelessness

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

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 $1000 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

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

Provides emergency food vouchers for families in need.

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

COVID19 People with children can call for food vouchers. * Available until they run out * Travelling office until church reopens.


Regular service
Provide emergency food vouchers for families in need.

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

Food Bank:

• can provide hamper once every two weeks
• mostly non-perishables
• bread, milk, eggs, butter, meat, sometimes fresh produce, baby food and diapers when available

Advocacy and Referral Services:

• Help for Heat
• Low Income Energy Asistance Program (LEAP)
• Homelessness Prevention
• literacy related assistance
• medical and dental services

Other services:

• pastoral care
• transportation assistance
• Christmas hampers
• Angel Tree toy drive
• back to school campaign
• volunteer program
• friendship lunch
• snowsuit fund
• emergency assistance for overnight accommodation
• emergency disaster relief for fire victims
• visitation for various needs including hospital and home visitations
• assistance for those suffering abuse
• Christian Summer Day Camp
• Overnight Camp

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.

Aims to prevent, address and reduce homelessness by assisting low-income households :

• at imminent risk of eviction or disconnection
• may provide support for: arrears with electrical or heating company (oil, gas, propane)
• after reception of a formal eviction notice as a result of unpaid rent or arrears

COVID-19 (6 Jun 2022): All four Employment and Social Services office hours to the public are Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4:30 pm. Staff will continue to provide telephone or email support from Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4:30 pm.

Helps Ottawa residents who cannot afford to pay for items or services needed to maintain their housing and for health items that are not available through other programs

May help to pay for/provide:

• urgent dental care, including dentures
• eye exams and glasses
• Assistive Devices Program (ADP) 25% consumer contribution
• bathroom aids
• surgical and diabetic supplies
• cremations and burials
• beds, cribs, high chairs

COVID-19 (August 15, 2022): The three food banks supported by PQCHC continue to run on modified schedule and program. Services are accessed by appointment only and available to those people living in the catchments assigned to each location: Pinecrest Terrace Community House 613-596-6703, Morrison Gardens Community 613-596-6229 and Foster Farms Community House 613-596-4866. The Health Clinic operates on appointments only. For more details and up-to-date information, see website.

Health centre focused on family and community health

Primary Health Care:

• medical clinic staffed by family physicians, nurse practitioners and nurses / community clinics
• nutrition: individual and group support provided by registered dietitians
• clean needle exchange / safe inhalation
• diabetes education
• falls prevention program
• primary care outreach for seniors
• dental screening
• nursing foot care
• lung health program

Community Health:

• community development: advocacy, education and supports to community residents to increase involvement in the community
• multicultural outreach: assistance to newcomers to facilitate integration into existing services
• health promotion: focusing on enabling people to increase control of their health and address determinants of health
• community house coordination: develop and facilitate programs and outreach to five low-income housing communities, support to planning and community initiatives
• safety and trust: support to community leaders and training to support the development of healthy communities and address issues of concern
• youth programming: homework clubs, United Sisters program for girls 10-14, training, workshops and events for youth, Somali Youth leadership and skills development
• pathways to education: support to high school students from low-income communities to help complete high school and move on to post-secondary education: tutoring, mentoring, financial and advocacy support

PQ Employment Services:

• PQ Employment Services: bring the right people together with the resources they need to find success
• Canada Ontario Job Grant program: provides financial support to individual employers who want to purchase training for their employees

Employment Programs:

• Youth LEAD Employment Program: assists permanent resident and refugee youth between the ages of 15-29 to develop skills and experience working in Canada
• Job Track: 15 week program that provides pre-apprenticeship training in the Child Development Practitioner trade through paid placements in child care settings
• Future Builders: 15 week program that provides pre-apprenticeship training and work experience to youth with barriers to employment (aged 16-29 years) in residential construction trades (i.e. general carpentry)

Children and Family Services:

• Headstart Nursery School: subsidized preschool program
• Early ON Child and Family Centre: universal access, information and referrals, bilingual designation
• Leaping Lizards: after-school programming
• Toy Lending Libraries: educational and recreational toys
• Circle of Support: parenting support for vulnerable families - home visiting
• Pre-Post Natal Programs: focus on infant care, parent education, nutrition program for high risk pregnant women
• School's Cool: school readiness program

Specialized Preschool Programs:

• First Words: screening clinics and treatment for children with speech language developmental delays
• Infant Hearing: screening of all newborns born deaf or at risk of deafness
• Blind/Low Vision: intervention and consultation services for families with infants diagnosed as blind or low-vision

Mental Health:

• Assertive Community Treatment Team: support and treatment to those with severe persistent illness
• Families First: housing assistance
• System Navigation: increase client self-efficacy and autonomy

Aims to prevent, address and reduce homelessness by assisting low-income households :

• at imminent risk of eviction or disconnection
• may provide support for: arrears with electrical or heating company (oil, gas, propane)
• after reception of a formal eviction notice as a result of unpaid rent or arrears

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)

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

Community services for rural residents

Support services include:

• low-cost transportation coordination
• Meals on Wheels delivery
• local volunteer opportunities
• home maintenance
• information and referral services

Applications for the Ontario Energy Support Program (OESP) and Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)

• (OESP) for discounts off monthly hydro bill
• (LEAP) a one-time emergency financial assistance
• agency can arrange a 21-day hold on a disconnection notice while a case is being assessed