The resources section provides links to various services and agencies that provide assistance to women.
More information is available on the websites listed below.
Guide to Services for People who are Homeless (City of Toronto)
The City of Toronto publishes a guide to services for people who are homeless in Toronto listing a network of services provided by community agencies.
For more information see: http://www.toronto.ca/housing/guide.htm
or contact ssha@toronto.ca or 416-397-4328.
www.211toronto.ca – Ad directory of over 20,000 community, social, health and government services.
Mental Health and Addiction Information
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health www.camh.net
The Canadian Mental Health Association www.cmha.ca
Distress Centres of Toronto 416-408-4357
St. Michael's Hospital 416-864-5120
Women’s Own Withdrawal Management Centre (detox) 416-603-1462 1-866-366-9513 (toll free) Central Access
Women’s Emergency Shelters & Hostels
Women’s Residence 674 Dundas Street West 416-392-5500
YWCA – First Stop Woodlawn 80 Woodlawn Avenue East 416-923-8454
Fred Victor Centre for Women 86 Lombard Street 416-368-2642
Savard’s – Homes First Society 1322 Bloor Street West 416-395-0932
Salvation Army - Evangeline 2808 Dundas Street West 416-762-9636
Salvation Army - Florence Booth 723 Queen Street West 416-603-9800
St. Vincent De Paul - Amelie House 126 Pape Avenue 416-359-0636
St. Vincent De Paul - Elisa House 60 Newcastle Street 416-259-2528
St. Vincent De Paul - Mary’s Home 70 Gerrard Street East 416-595-1578
Fred Victor Centre (Caledonia Shelter, CO-ED) 1161 Caledonia Rd 416-644-1734
Heyworth House (CO-ED) 2714 Danforth Rd 416-691-0012
Andyhuan (Native priority) 106 Spadina Rd 416-920-1492
Toronto Hostel Services – Assessment & Referral Centre 67 Adelaide St E 416-338-4766
Victims of Violence
Assaulted Women's Helpline 416-863-0511 1-866-863-0511 (toll-free)
Toronto Rape Crisis Centre 416-597-8808
S.O.S Femmes (French Crisis Line) 416-759-0138
Women’s College Sexual Assault Care Centre 416-323-6040
Barbara Schlifer Commemorative Clinic (counseling & legal) 416-323-9149
Scarborough Hospital (Birchmount Campus) Sexual Assault Care Centre 416-495-2555
Support Services
Drop Ins
Drop Ins offer services, food and connections to community supports. The Toronto Drop-In Network (TDIN) is an active coalition of 45+ drop-in centres working with people who are homeless, marginally housed or socially isolated in Toronto. The Network includes drop-ins of all sizes and diverse philosophies serving women, men, youth, seniors and families. Member agencies are located throughout the City of Toronto. To find a drop in see: www.toronto.ca/housing/pdf/tdin_brochure.pdf
Women only Drop-ins
Adelaide Resource Centre for Women 67 Adelaide Street East 416-392-9243
Fred Victor Women’s Day Program 67 Adelaide Street East 416-392-9245
Sistering 962 Bloor St W 416-926-1946
The 416 Drop-in Centre 416 Dundas Street East 416-928-3334
All Saints Church Drop In 315 Dundas St E 416-368-7768
Food Banks
Daily Bread Food Bank is Toronto’s leader in the fight against hunger. Daily Bread runs neighborhood food banks where people come to access food hampers, as well as meal programs where people can access prepared meals.
To access food please call 416-203-0050 and Daily Bread will refer you to the Neighborhood Food Bank in your area. For referrals and information on other programs and income supports click here or call our Advocacy Information Line at 416-203-0050 ext. 261.
Financial eligibility - When accessing one of Daily Bread's Emergency food banks, you will undergo an income assessment interview. This assessment helps to determine how many times per month you can access the food bank and ensures that food is fairly distributed amongst those who need it.
What you need to bring - When you visit a food bank, you will be asked information about your income, your address and your expenditures. It is important to bring:
Identification for all family members
Proof of income and expenditures (rent, hydro, basic phone)
Proof of your current address
Supportive Housing
Coordinated Access Network Office 416-979-1994 x 261
Fax 416-916-1689
Housing Resources
Housing Connections manages the centralized waiting list for rent-geared to income (RGI) units. People who need affordable housing must apply through Housing Connections. Help with filling out the application is available from Housing Connections, or from Housing Help Centres. For applications and more information see www.housingconnections.ca or go to 176 Elm Street, Main Floor or call 416-981-6111.
The Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation (CERA) is an Ontario-based non-profit human rights organization that promotes human rights in housing and challenges discrimination. CERA works to remove the barriers that keep disadvantaged individuals and families from accessing and retaining the housing they need. For more information call 416-944-0087 or 1-800-263-1139 or www.equalityrights.org
Health
Sherbourne Health Centre provides unscheduled Care Clinics for homeless and underhoused people
333 Sherbourne Street 416-324-4180
Street Health assesses and treats health complaints and makes appropriate referrals
338 Dundas Street East 416-921-8668
Parkdale Community Health Centre provides medical drop-in hours for homeless people
1229 Queen Street West 416-537-2455
Rainbow Health Ontario
Health care for lesbians, bisexuals, transgender people, education, advocacy and outreach
333 Sherbourne Street 416-324-4100 x 5080
Regent Park Community Health Centre
Community health, prenatal care, HIB/AIDS care, foot care, community garden, healthy eating, diabetes education, harm reduction
465 Dundas Street East 416-364-2261
Queen West Community Health Centre provides specialized medical services for homeless people
168 Bathurst Street 416-703-8480
Telehealth Ontario 1-866-797-0000
Social Assistance & Income Support
Toronto Social Services delivers the Ontario Works program for youth and adults in financial need. Phone the Client Services and Information Unit 416-392-2956 or 1-888-465-4478 (toll-free) www.toronto.ca/socialservices
Ontario Disability Support Program
The Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) managed and delivered by the Ministry of Community and Social Services, helps eligible people with disabilities by providing: Financial help.This is called Income Support and it helps people with disabilities who are in financial need pay for living expenses, like food and housing.
Help finding a job. This is called Employment Supports and it helps people with disabilities who can and want to work prepare for and find a job.
For information call Client Services Unit 416-325-5666 or 1-888-789-4199 (toll-free)
Income Support and Advocacy Centre provides legal services and advice. The Centre works on behalf of low income communities in Ontario to address issues of income security and poverty. For more information call 416-597-5820 or 1-866-245-4072. www.incomesecurity.org
Employment
Parliament Street Employment Resource Centre
Free, walk-in job search centre, access to computers, internet, fax, photocopier and telephone resource materials, job banks and labour market information, workshops, basic computer tutorials, assistance with resumes, interview simulations
595 Parliament Street, Main Floor, Toronto, ON M4X 1P9
Hours: Mon 10:30-6, Tues-Wed, 9:30-4:30, Thurs-Fri 9:30-7, Sat 9:30 -2
416-964-9797
Centre for Community Living and Development
Adult education, training and development, college preparation, training for volunteer tutors, public awareness
Education
George Brown College: Re-Direction through Education
Youth and adults 19 years and over who are dealing with addiction or mental health issues.
Supported education program, focus on interpersonal skills, assertiveness and vocational exploration and planning, college credit courses in English, computer skills, psychology and personal development.
St. James Campus, 200 King Street East, Rm 524A
Sept-June – Mon-Fri 9-4 1-800-265-2002
George Brown College: For You Programme
St. James Campus, 200 King Street East, Rm 524A
Sept-June – Mon-Fri 9-4 1-800-265-2002
Adults 19-65 years with chronic coping, addiction or mental health problems
Community mental health rehabilitation program with psychoeducational focus, life skills, arts, physical health education and leisure education with goal of assessing learning styles and initiating long term planning for community reintegration
ArtHeart
Free, community art centre, visual arts programs, uses art as a vehicle for addressing social issues,; adult program includes snacks and evening meal
237 Sackville Street Toronto, ON M5A 3G1 416-203-0034
Central Neighbourhood House
Women’s program: weekly group program including life skills, information and support in several languages, Digital Story Telling Program, East African Women’s Circle, violence prevention program
349 Ontario Street, Toronto, ON M5A 2V8 416-925-4363
Mon-Fri 7:30 am to 9:00 pm
Toronto Public Library Parliament Street Branch
269 Gerrard Street East, Toronto, ON M5A 2G3
John Innes Community Centre
150 Sherbourne Street, Toronto, ON M5A 2R6