Searching for Crisis Lines For Abused People

Provides safe, secure shelter for women, with or without children, who are fleeing abuse in their lives.
Services include:

• 24 hour support by phone and in the shelter
• transportation to the shelter (dependant on situation)
• food and emergency clothing while at the shelter
• all meals included
• community referrals
• court and housing support

Family Court Support Worker Program provides information on the family court process and assistance with:

• documenting the history of abuse for family court proceedings
• referral to specialized services and supports in the community
• safety planning
• court accompaniment to proceedings when appropriate

The shelter offers temporary accommodations for women and their children who are seeking shelter from abusive relationships.

• Various forms of abuse are acknowledged (ie: physical, emotional, sexual, verbal, etc)
• Counselling is available to both women and children throughout their stay. Counsellors assist women to build connections with a variety of community services and resources
• Shelter services are available 24 hours a day
• A barrier free room is available to support women with physical challenges
• 24 hours crisis and support counselling is available to women in the community through the support line
• Cornerstone Connect: Text & Chat support for violence and abuse. Text (289) 210-4774 or Chat online at rc.chat/cornerstonefvpc. Mon-Sun 6 pm to 6 am
  • Visit cornerstonenorthumberland.ca/connect for more information

Office is open to staff, clients and essential visitors only and they will be permitted to enter if they are feeling well and do not have symptoms associated with COVID-19. All persons entering are required to wear a mask and should be prepared to participate in the COVID-19 screening process.

• 24 HOUR CRISIS LINE - 613-476-2787
• TEXT LINE - 613-919-8055
• Counselling, information, advocacy and referrals for women who are in or have left an abusive relationship
• 24hr crisis intervention and transportation to safe shelter
• Support groups
• Second-stage free housing with the exception of second stage housing where rents are geared to income
• Kiosan-Second Stage Housing provides safe, secure, income geared units for up to one year

24 hr Crisis Line 1-877-544-6424

One week gender identifiying healing program. Program offers sustained, intensive therapeutic counseling in a safe, healing, residential environment.

COVID19 - Remains open * all programs and services operational * staff available to answer crisis help line, 905-728-7311 or toll free 1-800-263-3725, and can provide crisis counselling, support and safety planning

Shelter support and crisis counselling services include:

• secure emergency shelter for women and children fleeing abuse of any kind whether physical, emotional, sexual, or financial
• up to 27 crisis beds available
• confidential 24-hour crisis and supportive assistance by telephone or in person at the shelter
• emergency transportation to the shelter
• food, clothing and basic personal necessities
• supportive counselling for women, safety planning
• children's program staff to support your children
• help finding community resources and supports
• legal and court support referrals and information about your rights
• assistance with special priority for rent geared to income housing
• language interpretation can be arranged with notice
• crisis counselling and transitional support
• Community Support Workers provide support to women and their children who are currently involved in an abusive relationship, are planning on leaving or have left a partner and would like further options to move forward
• help establish short and long-term goal planning, based on individual needs

Support and follow-up are provided through telephone support, email, home visits or an alternative safe location to meet

• short-term supportive counselling
• goal planning
• safety planning
• advocacy, resources and referrals
• housing support groups for women and youth/children

DVSARP offers a 24-hour response team of nurses who are specially equipped with knowledge specific to intimate partner domestic violence and /or sexual assault (SA/DV) across the lifespan acute cases

• providing service to women, men and children
• within the team is a follow up nurse who is able to provide ongoing support to patients following the acute stage
• follow up nurse also can provide support to patients requiring assistance with historical Domestic Violence /Sexual Assault and works as a liaison with the community supports

The Domestic Violence /Sexual Assault team responds to all four hospitals within Quinte Health Care:

• Belleville, Trenton, Picton and North Hastings
• on-call nurse responds when paged by a local Emergency Department to assist the team with the care of a patient whom discloses to the triage nurse that they have been assaulted and require assistance
• collaborates with the Emergency Department Team as well as the sexual assault center social worker, or children's aid society as well as other social service sectors to support the assault victim and together provide a comprehensive assessment and a plan of care to meet the needs of the patient who has encountered an acute assault
• takes turns at being available for on call shifts
• legal and medical information will be offered as well as forensic collection in the event of an acute sexual assault at the patients discretion
• access to a sexual assault worker is also provided in conjunction with the Domestic Violence /Sexual Assault response nurse or coordinated by the local Emergency Department as required
• victims of an acute Domestic Violence /Sexual Assault are encouraged to engage 911 and/or go directly to the nearest Emergency Department for assistance

Support services to recent as well as historical or childhood survivors of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and childhood sexual abuse and their families

• 24/7 crisis and support line
• free and confidential service
• individual and group counselling - by phone and secure video (Zoom)
• police, legal, and medical accompaniment
• court advocacy
• public education
• volunteer opportunities and crisis line training

Wait time for individual counselling is currently 9-12 months ; once clients have completed an intake, clients are able to join groups via Zoom, including meditation, yoga, youth survivor's circle, and survivor's circle

COVID19 - remains open * provides counselling by phone


Emergency shelter

• 15 bed shelter
• services include counselling, referrals and advocacy
• transitional support and children's advocate worker
• crisis line

Police Services are provided by five community police offices located throughout Durham Region

• policing operations are supported by specialized units coordinated through the Regional Support Services Inspector

Special Units

Traffic Management

• investigate motor vehicle accidents involving death or life threatening injury

Tactical Support

• hostage, barricaded persons and high risk incidents * includes Canine, Marine Patrol, Dive Team and Explosive Disposal

Police Services Crime Management Branch

• coordinates the operation of the Major Crime Unit which is responsible to investigate homicides, sexual assaults, robbery and major frauds
• provides crime scene investigation including fingerprinting, photography, blood splatter analysis and evidence collection through the Forensic Identification Unit

Human Trafficking Unit

• investigates and provides education related to human trafficking

Intelligence, Surveillance, and Drug Units

• report to the Superintendent of Crime Management as do the Duty Inspectors

Administration Support Branch

• provision and management of resources which includes Human Resources, Police Learning, Information Services
• Communications 9-1-1 Centre
• Financial
• Facilities and Fleet Management

COVID19 - Remains open * outreach workers provide counselling in person and by phone

Emergency shelter

• free and confidential services to women who are or have experienced abuse
• access to resources and support services
• promote public awareness
• 24-hour crisis line

Transition Support Workers provide support, information, emergency accommodations and resource materials to help women live free from violence and abuse.

• All support services are free, confidential, and women-centred
• Services are available by appointment during office hours
• Programs offer support to women and their children who are living in, or wondering about leaving, an abusive relationship
• Available to all women in Peterborough City and County, and Haliburton County
• Clinical Counselling/Therapy is available to women in Haliburton County who have experienced abuse in their childhood and in adult relationships
• Other programs offered include Violence Prevention programs, information about housing and income supports, assistance navigating the Family and Criminal Court systems, and Haliburton Emergency Rural SafeSpace (HERS)

Centre supporting free, support to those effected by sexual violence.

24 hr Crisis Line 1-877-544-6424

Supports include:

• Individual Counselling
• Crisis line support
• Support groups
• Lending Library
• Safe Space Drop-in

Access to meeting spaces in Bancroft, Belleville, Quinte West and Picton.

COVID19 Services available online or by phone, no walk-in or in-person service; 24-hour crisis line 1-800-263-6734

Free, confidential and non-judgemental rapid response 24-hour crisis support, individual counselling, peer support, and advocacy for survivors of sexual violence and/or commercial sexual exploitation

Sexual Violence Counselling
Individual counselling up to 24 weeks, renewable on case by base basis if more support required

• includes date rape, cyber sexual violence, childhood sexual assault
• volunteer training

Human Trafficking
Counselling, case management, safety planning and intervention

• support, advocacy and referrals, contact 905-895-3646

Public education and outreach, including workshops and presentations around sexual violence and human trafficking, contact Public Education Coordinator sseeraj@womenssupportnetwork.ca

Registered Charitable, Non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about the abuse and neglect of older adults, under the Ontario Strategy to Combat Elder Abuse

Seniors Safety Line - Free confidential 365/24/7 support line for seniors experiencing or at-risk of abuse including physical, mental, sexual, neglect, and financial * partnered with Assaulted Women's Helpline (AWHL)

Green Haven Shelter is a safe alternative to an abusive home.
Trained staff are available 24/7. Safety and confidentiality are key priorities. Information on options, rights, resources, and referrals to services that best meet clients needs will be provided. These could include legal, financial, housing and employment issues. Concerns about the impact of exposure to violence and the effect of trauma on both children and women can be explored.

Programs available include:

24 Hour Crisis Line

• Immediate telephone support
• Crisis intervention
• Toll-Free: 1-888-285-6958
• Local: 705-327-7319
• Text: 705-345-1302
• Email: crisis@ghws.ca

The Residential Shelter Program

• Safe, secure refuge 24 hour / 7 days a week
• Informal, confidential support and crisis counselling
• Financial, legal and housing information and referrals
• Information on community resources and referrals
• Emergency transportation
• Safety planning

Transitional Housing Support Services

• Housing alternatives for women in residence or from the community
• Employment and education opportunities
• Applications to subsidized housing programs
• Income support and budgeting, financial resources and options
• Information and support regarding legal aid
• Parenting support resources
• Local: 705-327-7383 ext 222
• Email: transition@ghws.ca

The Community Outreach Program

• An alternative to the Residential Shelter Program
• Court/legal support
• Confidential individual and/or group counselling by appointment
• Local: 705-329-2806
• Email: outreach@ghws.ca

Child and Youth Services

• Individual and group counselling
• Recreational and play activities, including arts and crafts
• School support while residing at the shelter
• Parenting support for mothers​
• Local: 705-327-7383 ext 225
• Email: youth@ghws.ca

COVID-19 -- maintain all essential services including supportive housing, assisted living, home care, transportation for essential visits, providing hot meals, frozen meals and food hampers to seniors and people needing isolation

• Transitional Care Centre -- regular service, visits (in person for family and caregiver with appointment)
• also available via phone/virtually telephone reassurance, supportive counselling and service coordination
• Family Health Organization, GAIN Community Team
• Adult Day Program -- in person and virtual care
• Diabetes Education Program -- assessment, consultation, group education
• Wellness and Community Development Program -- in person and virtual platform
• Vocational Training Centre -- in person and virtual platform

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Adult Day Program -- Monday-Friday 9:30 am-3:30 pm, weekday extended hours, Saturday 10 am-3 pm, available in Scarborough and Richmond Hill

• for persons 55 years and older with special needs, such as physical frailty or mild memory impairment, in need of supervised, structured setting
• social and recreation activities, lunch, snack
• personal care and health related services -- exercise, foot care, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, massage therapy
• transportation available

Chinese Bereavement Services -- culturally specific bereavement services, individual support and self help group

• public education, seminars, workshops, information and referral

Chronic Disease Self Management Program -- 6 week workshop for adults with chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, asthma, bronchitis

• individual counselling with nurse, dietitian and social worker
• health and education workshops, seminars
• caregiver education and support
• information and referral
• workshop licensed by Self-Management Resource Centre

Community Outreach -- outreach programs for those living in seniors apartments and suburban areas, retirement groups,seniors self help groups

• community, wellness and health education
• caregiver support, volunteer development

Community support services -- escort to medical appointments, telephone security checks, friendly visiting, hospice visiting, grocery shopping, client intervention and assistance -- free

• congregate dining -- fee, subsidies available
• transportation -- fee
• referrals, follow up

Elder Abuse Prevention Program -- Chinese Elder Abuse Helpline 416-502-2321, elder abuse education, supportive counselling

Geriatric Assessment & Intervention Network (GAIN) Community Team -- wrap around supported care and services with individualized comprehensive geriatric assessment

• intensive case management, personalized care plan
• service navigation

Home care services -- home help, homemaking, respite care, palliative care -- fee

Personal Care Program -- for seniors living in the community requiring higher level of care, care coordination, scheduled and unscheduled personal support workers' visit, security check

Transitional Care Respite Stay Program -- short stay transitional care for individuals recuperating from illness/hospitalization and respite (caregiver relief) -- fee

Integrated Dialysis Care Program -- Registered Nurses and Registered Practical Nurses visit home peritoneal dialysis patients at their home

• health maintenance, nutritional counselling

Supportive housing services -- for seniors requiring higher level of care, 24 hour on site services at Alexandra Park Apartments and Tam O'Shanter Towers, emergency response services

Wellness and Social Program -- social, recreational and educational programs for persons 50 years and older, drop-in centre, friendship groups, interest classes, outings

COVID19 Emergency shelter and crisis line open, call 1-800-661-8294

Emergency shelter and 24 hour crisis line and crisis intervention, including support, counselling, advocacy, information and referral, legal information and court support, women's groups including transition support program, and Let's Talk children's groups; also second stage housing and outreach programs

• capacity 30
• multicultural focus
• public education

Secure locations in Jackson's Point and Richmond Hill, call for information; also Keswick Outreach 905-476-8992, Markham Outreach 905-479-4551

COVID-19 -- maintain all essential services including supportive housing, assisted living, home care

• transportation for essential visits
• providing hot meals, frozen meals and food hampers to seniors and people needing isolation
• Transitional Care Centre -- regular service, visits (in person for family and caregiver with appointment)
• also available via phone/virtually telephone reassurance, supportive counselling and service coordination
• Family Health Organization, GAIN Community Team
• Adult Day Program -- in person and virtual care
• Diabetes Education Program -- assessment, consultation, group education
• Wellness and Community Development Program -- in person and virtual platform
• Vocational Training Centre -- in person and virtual platform

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Adult Day Program -- Monday-Friday 9:30 am-3 pm, weekday and weekend extended hours

• for persons 55 years and older with special needs such as physical frailty or mild memory impairment, in need of supervised, structured setting
• social and recreation activities, lunch, snack
• personal care and health related services -- exercise, foot care, physiotherapy, massage therapy
• transportation available
• fee

Overnight Stay Program -- respite care (caregiver relief) program for persons with cognitive impairment or dementia and seniors in need of services, stays up to three months, meals, snacks, showering services *

• laundry -- fee
• personal care and health related services provided by personal support workers including medication reminders, personal hygiene, feeding

Chinese Bereavement Services -- culturally specific bereavement services, individual support and self help group

• public education, seminars, workshops
• information and referral

Chronic Disease Self Management Program -- 6 week workshop for adults with chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, asthma, bronchitis

• individual counselling with nurse, dietitian and social worker
• health and education workshops, seminars, caregiver education and support
• information and referral
• workshop licensed by Stanford University

Community Outreach -- outreach programs for those living in seniors apartments and suburban areas, retirement groups, seniors self help groups

• community, wellness and health education
• caregiver support, volunteer development

Community support services -- escort to medical appointments, telephone security checks, friendly visiting, hospice visiting, grocery shopping, client intervention and assistance -- free

• congregate dining -- fee, subsidies available
• transportation -- fee
• referrals, follow up

Elder Abuse Prevention Program -- Chinese Elder Abuse Helpline 416-502-2321, elder abuse education, supportive counselling

Home care services -- home help, homemaking, respite care, palliative care -- fee

Personal Care Program -- for seniors living in the community requiring higher level of care

• care coordination
• scheduled and unscheduled personal support workers' visit, security check

Integrated Dialysis Care Program -- Registered Nurses and Registered Practical Nurses visit home peritoneal dialysis patients at their home, health maintenance, nutritional counselling

Wellness and Social Program -- social, recreational and educational programs for persons 50 years and older, drop-in centre, friendship groups, interest classes, outings

Emergency shelters and crisis line, call 1-800-263-3247

Emergency shelter, crisis intervention, outreach, counselling and support services

Emergency Shelters
2 shelters, 24 hour crisis line and crisis intervention

Community supports
Non-shelter resident services include counselling and group supports for women and children, parenting programs, legal support program, and transitional housing support, public education and prevention programs, and volunteer opportunities

Domestic violence program

• provides a continuum of crisis and support services to women experiencing abuse and violence in their lives or have experienced it in the past
• offers safety planning, crisis support, legal and medical information, transportation, counselling, and referrals

COVID-19 (28 Mar 2022): ​The shelter and crisis line services are unchanged. Increased screening, physical distancing in shelter. The crisis lines remain operational: 1-800-667-1010 or 613-354-1010. See Facebook Page for latest updates.

Shelter for abused women with or without children

• 24 hour crisis line, safe shelter, counselling, referral, information, transportation, advocacy, court and other accompaniments, and children's programming
• capacity of 16 beds

In this listing, you will find information about Safety Resources, Crisis/Distress Lines, support for Older Adults, Online Community Groups to help you through this pandemic.

Safety
In an emergency call 9-1-1 for police, fire and ambulance

Women and Children's Shelter of Barrie

• call Crisis Line at 705-728-2544 or 1-800-461-1716 for immediate help
• call Outreach Services at 705-721-9977 for phone support
• 24 hour crisis line and shelter for abused women and their dependent children, emergency transportation to shelter available
• see website for more resources

Athena's Sexual Assault Counselling & Advocacy Centre

• 24 hour crisis line 705-737-2008 or 1-800-987-0799
• free and confidential individual counselling for women 16 yrs and up who have experienced sexual violence at any time

Sexual Assault Treatment Centre, Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital

• provides emergency medical care and treatment options to victims of sexual and domestic assault
• police involvement is not required to access the service
• see website for more resources

Assaulted Women's Helpline

• counselors continue to be available 24/7 to support women and seniors experiencing abuse
• Assaulted Women's Helpline 1-866-863-0511
• Senior Safety Line 1-866-299-1011
• see website for more resources

Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions

• access child protection services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 705-726-6587 or 1-800-461-4236
• see website for more resources

Canadian Centre for Child Protection

• Charity dedicated to personal safety of all children with goal to reduce the sexual abuse and exploitation of children and prevent child victimization
• see website for COVID-19 Resources

Older Adults
Seniors Centre without Walls

• free interactive telephone-based program that connects seniors and enables them to be social, informed and connected during difficult times, program run by City of Barrie 55+ Centre staff and volunteers
• enjoy a variety of topics each week ranging from informal coffee chats and fun brain stimulating games to health and wellness seminars and educational talks
• see website for more information

Telecare Distress Line of Greater Simcoe, Reassurance Call Program

• free regular phone calls Mon-sun 9 am-9 pm available to anyone within the local calling area who experiences loneliness or isolation, is housebound, has reduced mobility and would like to engage in friendly conversation with a trained volunteer
• to register for service in Barrie call 705-726-7922, in Orillia call 705-325-9534

Ontario Caregiver Organization

• 24/7 Helpline for caregiver information, assessment and referral to connect people to community services
• live chat through website, Mon-Fri 7 am-9 pm
• online support groups and tip sheets related to COVID-19
• call Helpline at 1-833-416-2273, for all other details see website

North Simcoe Muskoka Hospice Palliative Care Network

• Regional Bereavement Support Line 705-325-7871
• if you are anticipating the loss of a loved one or have recently lost a loved one, this support line can connect with you with resources to help you through your grief journey
• line is monitored from 8am to 8pm daily, all calls received after hours will be returned on the next day in order they were left - * please note that this is not a COVID-19 information resource
• see website for more information

Resources for Supporting Kids

• a kids book about COVID-19
• Cora and the Corona

Barrie Transit

• paid transit resumed Aug 2, 2020
• regular buses run hourly Mon-Sat from approximately 5:30 am-12:30 am and Sun from approximately 9 am-11 pm
• for routes see Schedules and Maps or call 705-726-4242
• for people with functional mobility problems who are unable to access regular public transit call Specialized Transit 705-792-5033, press 1 for more information
• For assistance with Food, including grocery or meal delivery, see Grocery and Food Delivery Options

Facebook Groups

• Barrie Families Unite Facebook Group, started in March 14, 2020 - A space created to facilitate HELP within our community. Posts of NEEDED help; due to self quarantines, school closures or other trickle down effects that have resulted from the current COVID-19 pandemic

• Hometown Masks for Hometown Heroes, Barrie Simcoe North Facebook Group, started Apr 4, 2020 - This group has been created as the result of an urgent need for masks and caps for healthcare workers as well as immune-compromised folks in the Barrie, Orillia, Midland, Elmvale, Wasaga Beach and Collingwood areas.

COVID-19 Response

• For women in need of support call Crisis Line at 705-728-2544 or 1-800-461-1716
• For Outreach Services, call Crisis Line 705-728-2544 for support by phone, no in-person appointments

Regular Service
Emergency residence with 27 beds for women and their children who are experiencing abuse in their significant relationships, residential services include:

• Safe, temporary accommodation
• Crisis telephone and on site counselling
• Children's services for residents
• Legal and court support
• Information and referral
• Education, advocacy and assistance with social services including Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Program and Social Housing
• Emergency transportation if required
• Emergency Residential support for women experiencing human trafficking

Outreach services include legal advocacy and court support, individual counselling, groups, information and referral, education, advocacy,assistance with social services and community services including Barrie Food Bank

Donations of food, new household items and clothing accepted by appointment, call for information at 705-728-6300

Family Court Support Worker Program

• Information on the family court process
• Assistance in preparing for family court proceedings (documenting history of abuse, accessing Legal Aid)
• Referral to specialized services and supports in the community
• Safety planning
• Court accompaniment to proceedings when appropriate

Have created a Violence Prevention video series, designed for youth, but accessible to all on a variety of topics related to healthy relationships. Visit: www.barrieshelter.com/resources/ to view the five videos. Check back as additional videos will be added soon.

Winter Sponsorship Program

• Matches families staying at the shelter and those families that access outreach services with individuals or businesses, who would like to adopt a family in need and provide a Christmas of gifts, gift cards and food gift certificate/food items
• To sponsor a family, contact the Shelter at 705-728-6300

COVID-19 Response
Beginning July 4, 2022, in-person and virtual/phone counselling will be offered to current clients. Groups and workshops will work within the hybrid model and be available in-person and virtually, based on registration. Drop-In groups will be virtual in July and begin in-person in August.

Beginning September 6, 2022, 100% of counselling sessions to be actively offered in-person. Virtual/phone appointments still accepted based on client's needs. Groups and workshops will continue with a hybrid model, based on registration. Drop-In group will continue to be 100% in-person.

People visiting the space are currently required to wear a mask, and if not, to maintain social distancing. All staff are required to wear a mask when they are in common areas. All women entering the space will be asked to complete COVID-19 screening questions. Visitors to the space who are displaying two of any of the prominent COVID-19 symptoms will not be permitted.

Regular Service
Provides free and confidential services for women 16 years of age and older, throughout Simcoe County, who have experienced sexual violence at any time in their lives.

Services include:

• a 24 hour telephone crisis line
• individual counselling and support groups
• court and hospital accompaniment
• legal support, advocacy, information, and referrals
• public education to end violence against women in our community

Partner Abuse Program

• Information, support, and individual and group counselling for women who have experienced abuse in a partner relationship
• program helps women plan for safety, decrease isolation and increase self-confidence and assertiveness
• program is offered in various locations throughout Simcoe County, call for information

Presentations are done in person or virtually on consent, healthy relationships, digital abuse, gender, and self-esteem, and
'rape culture'.