Searching for Community Legal Services

Provides free legal services to low-income individuals.

• staff consists of community legal workers and lawyers
• offer services from our main office in St. Thomas and our satellite offices in Woodstock, Tillsonburg, Aylmer, Ingersoll, West Lorne, Chippewa of the Thames, Oneida of the Thames and Munsee Delaware Nation
• initial contact is made through St. Thomas head office

Services include:

• assistance on landlord/tenant matters and appeals in Ontario Works
• Ontario Disability Support Program, employment law and on Canada Pension Plan matters
• traditional casework, summary advice, public legal education, law reform, and a wide range of community development activities

The Clinic is currently involved in a project to educate and assist residents about sexual harassment in the workplace. A lawyer is available to provide workshops and information about sexual harassment in the workplace free of charge. The Clinic is involved in a project to provide advice and support to victims of intimate violence and sexual abuse with a lawyer and a social worker. The Clinic has an Indigenous Justice Program with a staff member who will assist the Indigenous communities and residents. The program is meant to facilitate connecting Indigenous residents with the justice system.

Main office in St. Thomas with full-time satellite office in Woodstock, and part-time satellite services in Tillsonburg and Ingersoll * if needed, arrangements can be made in other communities to meet with clients that have no transportation

Investigates allegations of child abuse or neglect under the Child and Family Services Act * provides children brought into the care of the agency with temporary or long-term care through placement in foster homes, kinship homes, group homes or institutions * ongoing supervision, counselling and group support to families * referrals to other community services for families requiring non protection child/family services * handles adoptions and adoption disclosure

PRIDE (Parent Resources for Information, Development and Education) - Pre service training program for prospective foster and adoptive parents * identifies the challenges and opportunities of caring for children and families facing difficulties

Family Violence (0- 18 years) - Promotes safety * group and one-on-one counselling for women and children

Partner Assault Response (PAR) (13-18 years) - Specialized counselling and educational services for people who have assaulted their partners * court ordered program

Men Accepting Responsibility to Change Program (MARC) - The Partner Response Program for men is a 12 week psycho-educational program for people who have used violence and abuse towards their intimate partner including a spouse or or partner. Victims/partners of the individual referred into the program are provided with support including safety planning, referrals to community resources, and updates about the group member progress.

Oxford Child Witness Program (7-18 years) - Court preparation and support for children, teens and their families

Children Exposed to Family Violence (0-16 years) - Group that introduces children to the idea of healthy, non-abusive family relationships, helps them understand that they are not to blame for the violence within their home and works to increase self-esteem

Women's Focus Group (13-18 years) - Counselling services to women who have experienced a violent relationship

Teen Dating Violence Forum (13-18 years) - Opportunity for teenage girls to reach out for help

COVID19 Update: Food Bank open by appointment only Mon, Wed, Fri 9 am-3 pm; call ahead to provide information.

Food Bank
Food assistance program providing both perishable & non-perishable food (canned & boxed food, frozen food, meats, fruits & vegetables) * bread * Emergency Walk-in Food Bank * once every 6 weeks assistance * limited baby food, formula and diapers (when available) * food assistance can be accessed by appointment once every six weeks if required * Drop-in coffee, baked goods and bread.

Emergency Housing
Provides families with emergency housing which accomadates up to 10 people(s) maximum for a 6 week stay.
If The Inn Oxford's Homeless Shelter is filled to capacity, a single night arrangement at local accomadations (hotel/motel) can be arranged for individuals.

Volunteer Program
Volunteer service and school Community Service Hours programs * drop off resume or complete The Salvation Army Volunteer Registration Form available from Salvation Army office

Wellness Program - Eyeglasses, Prescriptions and Transportation Assistance
Program offers either a grant depending on financial situations to the maximum of $200 * assists with the following: dental, prescriptions, eyeglasses, medical equipment, transportation to out of town medical appointments, identification replacement

Housing Advocacy
Assistance with documentation and advice on landlord tenant issues

Low-income Electric Assistance Program (LEAP)
Access Centre to apply for LEAP - a one time hydro utility payment assistance program * grant is credited directly toward hydro portion of bill * program begins December 1st each year * available only once

Camps
Overall purpose is to serve the total personality and health needs of the camper; spiritual, educational, social, and recreational through a creative, healthful experience, in co-operative group living in outdoor settings * Holiday camps * Mum and Tots * Teens * Sleep Away camp for youth only * applications available through Woodstock branch, Tillsonburg branch, Norwich branch, Ingersoll branch

Family Law Information Centre * information and resources about separation, divorce, children * Family Law Clinic held on Wed

Driver and Vehicle * vehicle permits and plates * drivers licenses * accessible parking permits * copies of records * product sales including information packages on specific used vehicles

Health * Ontario health card registration, renewal, replacement (lost, stolen or damaged) and change of name or address * organ and tissue donor registration

Photo Identification * change the address on an Ontario photo card * change the digital signature * change the name * digital photo * Ontario photo card * renew Ontario photo card * replace Ontario photo card.

By Peaceful Waters offers comprehensive counselling services for individuals, couples and groups, and child centered divorce services to support families working through the pain of separation. Other services include workshops and seminars, spiritual direction, financial coaching.

Provide people living on a low income free legal services for certain problems.

Services:

• provide legal advice
• assistance filling out forms
• represent at some tribunals and courts
• referrals to other agencies when Legal Aid cannot help

Give legal information sessions for members of the public and other community agencies and work to improve the laws that affect low income people in Ontario with community partners.

The Clinic is a non-profit corporation staffed by lawyers, community legal workers, and administrative staff, and directed by a volunteer Board of Directors drawn from the community.

The Family Law Information Clinic (FLIC) is for clients considering family court action. FLIC provides resources and services for people in the process of separation and divorce, completion of forms, information on legal services and the legal system, family disputes. The FLIC office has resumed in-person service on Wednesdays.

Facile Perth assists people with disabilities and their families in Perth, Huron, and Oxford Counties to plan for and build a good life in community. That means a life rich in people and places.

Planning and facilitation is the core of our work. Through planning and facilitation, we support people and their families to create the life they want in the community. Our planning and facilitation is not one-size-fits-all. Instead of a menu of services, we get to know each individual and family that we work with, understand their unique gifts, strengths, dreams, and challenges. We then work with you to develop a plan for the life you want to live, and work with you to facilitate that plan.

Person-Directed Planning:

Planning is something we all do. We think about what is important to us in our lives. We talk to others we trust. We decide what is needed to have the life we want. Person-directed planning is just that - a person has the opportunity to think about and decide what is important to them. Most often, this includes a person's family and others who are important in their lives. Our role at Facile is to guide the process of planning, but not direct it. Independent facilitators who guide the process believe:

People make decisions about their own lives. Family and friends of the person are important and are listened to. A person's community is the first place to look for anything they need to build a good life. Everybody has dreams, strengths and gifts. People need people. Planning includes action.

Independent Facilitation:

Facile offers independent facilitation to support person-directed planning, relationship development, social inclusion and community participation and contribution. The role of independent facilitators is to guide the process, but not direct it. As independent facilitators, we are accountable to the person and their network. We are an independent and unencumbered organization, separate from agencies that provide direct services or decides who is eligible for funding or services.

Other services:
Facile Perth also offers workshops. Please contact us for more information.

COVID19 - During COVID19 staff and per-diems will not attend physical courthouses until further notice.
Legal Aid has created a number of online resource in response to COVID19: COVID19 legal aid services for clients, Legal Information resources for general public, HERE for immigrant and refugee resources and FAQ

Legal Aid for Ontario residents with low income. Criminal, family disputes, immigration, refugee hearings, Family Law Information Clinic (FLIC), adjournment, pleas, applications for bail, submissions as to sentence, young offenders and certificate program. Private lawyers, staff lawyers and duty counsel

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

Women's Services provides shelter, counselling, support, and advocacy for women and children whose lives have been affected by abuse

Services include:

• STAR Counsellor - available for all students in every secondary school in Haldimand & Norfolk who are involved in an abusive relationship
  
• Shelter Program - provides a safe, supportive place to stay for women 16 yrs and over, with or without children. Confidential counselling and emotional support. 24-hour crisis line (anonymous calls accepted) and transportation to the Shelter if needed during a crisis
  
• Children's Program - provides individual counselling and emotional support for children staying at the Shelter. Parenting support for mothers
  
• Women's Sexual Assault Program - 24-hour crisis telephone line, immediate crisis counselling, accompaniment to hospital or police station after a sexual assault, short and long-term counselling for sexual assault and/or childhood sexual abuse, advocacy, group counselling, educational presentations
  
• Women's Counselling Program - provides in-depth short and long-term counselling for women 16 years and older
  
• Community Education and Counselling Program - educational discussion and support groups, presentations to any community or professional group. STAR (Stop Abuse in Relationships) provides counselling, support, and referral information for students at all secondary schools in Haldimand and Norfolk (half day per week), classroom presentations
  
• Transitional Housing & Support Program/Legal Advocates - assists women in developing goals as they leave an abusive relationship, provides information and helps to access and maintain housing, court support, and advocacy. Provides legal advocacy services for Family law and criminal law issues to women
  
• Elementary School-Based Counselling Program - counselling can be provided in any elementary school (either public or private) in Haldimand and Norfolk for any child who has witnessed abuse
  
• Children Who Witness Woman Abuse Group Program (My Circle of Friends) - group counselling to children aged 4-16 who have witnessed woman abuse, and concurrent groups for mothers
  
• Volunteer Program - recruits, screens, and trains volunteers to provide support services for abused women and their children
  
• CAS/Vaw Liason - joint response with CAS worker to low-risk cases involving domestic violence to inform the woman of program and services
  
• Youth Housing Advocate - assist crown wards leaving CAS care to obtain housing
  
• Quetzal Family Homes - provide counselling , support, and advocacy to residents of Quetzal Family Homes through the QFH Counseling Program
  
• Legal Advocate - provide legal advocacy services primarily to residents of Quetzal Family Homes
  
• Justice For Women - chair and coordinate Justice For Women meetings and projects. Educate the community through neighbour, friend and family presentations
  
• Family Court Support Worker Program - information on the family court process; assistance in 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

Office located in Simcoe with satellite locations in Caledonia and Dunnville

Provides information on the family court process, assistance in 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, court documents, assistance with Legal Aid application, assistance finding a lawyer or access to legal advice, gathering and completing court papers, preparing evidence statements, understanding court outcomes. Provides access to community services and programs

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

Available to meet with women throughout Perth County, call for details.

By Peaceful Waters offers comprehensive counselling services for individuals, couples and groups, and child centered divorce services to support families working through the pain of separation. Other services include workshops and seminars, spiritual direction, financial coaching.

Designed for use by unrepresented litigants who need assistance with family law cases as they relate to court processes

• duty counsel lawyer will be available to assist with legal concerns
  
• assistance will also be provided with the completion of forms

Group of landlords who meet regularly to discuss being a successful landlord and information relating to income property and the Residential Tenancy Act

• local, regional and provincial guest speakers are presented and invited to impart their expertise and assist the group

Provides Indigenous controlled and culturally based justice alternatives

• Gladue Reports - preparation of Gladue reports for court proceedings
  
• Yoha:te ne kahsen:na (The Road to Your Name) - cultural learning program facilitated by local Indigenous Knowledge Helpers designed for those in the justice system and people supporting those in the justice system
  
• Indigenous Knowledge Keepers Program - Indigenous Knowlege Keepers attend each session of Indigenous Peoples Court. They are a cultural resource to Court personnel, justice workers and clients. They are facilitators of client conferences

Free legal services for low-income people funded by Legal Aid Ontario

• advice and representation available through this Nonprofit independent community legal clinic to clients who have problems such as housing, social assistance, government pensions and employment insurance

Services provided in the following areas of law:

• Residential tenancies (for tenants)
  
• Employment Insurance (EI)
  
• Employment issues
  
• Human Rights
  
• Consumer Protection
  
• Notary services

Legal Health Check-Up:

• an online check-up to help people who are living in poverty identify legal problems and get help
  
• if you do not have enough money to live on, a good home or job, or family, social and health supports, your legal health may be at risk

Assisting Indigenous adults charged with a criminal offence to better understand their rights, options and responsibilities when appearing before the court. Helping to navigate the court process

Helping Indigenous families to navigate through family law proceedings, as well as assisting youth charged with criminal offences under the Youth Criminal Justice Act

The Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) is mandated through the Education Act as a standing committee of the board. SEAC members include parents who have a direct say in program and service delivery related to Special Education. The committee reports to the board and makes recommendations to the board regarding special education programs and services.