Searching for Credit Counselling

Formerly known as DRIVEN

COVID19 - All support is currently provided virtually, by phone or video

Access to multiple supports in one location for women experiencing abuse and gender-based violence

On-site Services - subject to change

• abuse/violence counselling, sexual violence counselling
• parenting support in regards to children witnessing/experiencing abuse, advice and support of Durham Children's Aid Society
• help developing plan to safely leave, safety planning, injury documentation, admission to shelter
• family law support and guidance
• connection to government financial assistance, help identifying housing options, support in completion of subsidized housing paperwork
• quarterly hygiene bags for those in financial need, clothing vouchers, access to language interpreters, and referrals to other needed supports

Off-site Services (accessed over phone)

• legal support, legal consultation with family lawyer
• Legal Aid Ontario certificates and summary legal advice (if eligible)
• admission to shelter
• young parent support services
• employment support
• specialized addictions counselling
• HIV, sexual health, and drug use information and support
• culturally specific services, Settlement Services for newcomers to Canada
• monthly food boxes for those in financial need
• financial assistance to address immediate safety concerns (if eligible)
• police support
• Outreach Services, a service of the Student Association at Durham College/ UOIT, and other referrals

Video chat connection to Safety Network Durham is available through the Welcome Centre Immigrant Services in Ajax, the Welcome Centre Immigrant Services in Pickering, New Life Neighbourhood Centre in Oshawa, and North House in Uxbridge

Debt management and consolidation programs

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

Debt management and consolidation programs

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

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

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

Debt management and consolidation programs

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

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 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)

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

Debt management and consolidation programs

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

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

The Family Services is committed to care for the physical and spiritual needs of individuals.

Programs & services include:

• Lunch Programs
• Coats for Kids
• Back Pack Program
• Homelessness Assistance
• Emergency Housing Assistance
• Food Cupboard
• Christmas Assistance
• Children's Adventure Camp
• Moms & Tots Camp
• Emergency Disaster Services
• Emergency Transportation Assistance
• Furniture/Clothing/Bed Referral Assistance
• Celebrate Recovery (Addictions Withdrawal Program)
• Health Bank Program
• Community Outreach Program

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

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

-----------------

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)

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

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

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

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

Adult drop-in

• take away meals with snack and beverage
• laundry and shower access Monday-Friday 9 am-12:30 pm
• 1:1 client support including housing help, Voluntary Financial Trusteeship (open for referrals), information and referral
• clothing bank - 2nd and 4th Wednesday of month 9 am-10:30 am
• women's group - 1st and 3rd Tuesday of month 1 pm-2 pm
• men's group - Thursday 12:30 pm-2 pm
• women's support group - 2nd and 4th Tuesday of month 12 noon-1 pm
• men's support group - 2nd and 4th Monday of month 12 noon-1 pm
• social and recreation activities
• seasonal free tax service

Legal Services

• Downtown Legal Services Satellite Clinic - 3rd Wednesday of month 10 am-12:30 pm

Health services

• walk in COVID-19 vaccine clinic -- Monday 9:30 am-11:30 am
• nursing services -- Friday 10:30 am-12 noon
• dental clinic -- call for eligibility criteria and appointment, ext 290
• Narcotics Anonymous, Tuesday and Thursday 2 pm-3 pm

Spiritual Care

• Sunday dinner 5 pm-6 pm
• Sunday worship service 6 pm-7 pm
• 1:1 counselling support Monday-Friday 9 am-12 noon

Member agency of Toronto Drop-in Network (TDIN)

Homeless Services (Family & Singles Hostel Services) Shelter

• Provides shelter, 3 meals a day, 24 hour support. Referrals to appropriate services and advocacy with other agencies. The homeless shelter is located in the town of Lindsay.

Trustee Program

• Trustee available for youth who are Ontario Works recipients 16 to 24 years old, and Adults who feel they need more financial support managing their funds. Supports in special circumstances (special needs) as well.

Offers programs and services to assist individuals and families in need.
Services include:

• Food bank services (by appointment only)
• Emergency clothing and household vouchers for individuals facing homelessness, fire, flood
• Christmas Food Hampers (applications open in Nov, see separate listing)
• Pathway of Hope Initiative
• Summer camp for children aged 6 - 15 (One week overnight camp)
• Income Tax Clinic (Mar-Oct)

Provides assistance to resident through a range of services for housing related needs, including:

• help to maintain housing
• help to find housing
• help with financial assistance
• help for landlords
• help with support services
• help with emergency housing