Community Resources

Learn more about the help and support available to you.
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A range of programs and services from government and community organizations is available to support you. Explore the resources listed below:

Patient resources

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  • Access 2 Card: This card offers free or discounted admission for a support person when visiting certain places in Toronto.
  • Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities Program (ACSD): This program helps parents and guardians of children under 18 with severe disabilities that create extra costs.
  • Assistive Devices Program: This program helps cover the costs of special equipment and supplies needed by people with long-term disabilities.
  • Child Disability Benefit (CDB): Offers financial support to parents and guardians of children under 18 who have serious or long-lasting disabilities.
  • Developmental Services Ontario: The central place to access government services for adults with developmental disabilities.
  • Disability Tax Credit (DTC): This credit reduces the amount of income tax you have to pay if you have a severe and long-lasting disability.
    • Criteria: Must have a severe and long-lasting disability in 1 category, significant limitations in 2 or more categories, or be undergoing therapy for a vital function.
  • Home and Vehicle Modification Program: Provides financial help for making modifications to homes and vehicles for people with permanent disabilities.
    • Criteria: have a permanent disability that limits mobility or daily activities.
  • Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP): Offers financial help to people with disabilities in need.
    • Criteria: Must be 18 or older, have a disability, and be in financial need.
  • Toronto Mental Health and Addictions Access Point: A place to get support for mental health and addiction issues and find supportive housing.
    • Criteria: Must be 14 or older, have a mental health condition or substance use disorder, and live within the designated area (from Port Union Road to Highway 427 to Steeles Avenue to the lake).
  • Borrow a Laptop: Toronto Public Libraries allows you to borrow laptops to use in the library, with printing and free Wi-Fi access.
  • Rogers Connected for Success: This program offers affordable internet, TV bundles and mobile plans for people receiving social assistance in some provinces.
  • Telus Connecting for Good Programs: Offers free or low-cost smartphones and plans for young people leaving foster care and low-income seniors. Affordable internet options are available for families in need, people with disabilities, low-income seniors, and youth who are aging out of care.
  • ACCES Employment Toronto: Offers personal support to job seekers, helping them find suitable jobs.
  • Employment Ontario: Offers advice and resources to help job seekers, workers and employers by giving advice, grants and other resources related to jobs in both public and private sectors.
  • Toronto Employment and Social Services (TESS): Provides financial help through Ontario Works, along with support for finding work and accessing social services for people living in Toronto.
  • Canada Child Benefit (CCB) and Ontario Child Benefit (OCB): These benefits help low- to moderate-income families with the costs of raising children.
    • Criteria: The guardian must live with a child aged 0-17 and primarily care for them.
  • Canada Dental Care Plan (CDCP): Helps lower dental costs for children aged 0-11.
    • Criteria: The family must earn less than $90,000 per year AND doesn’t have private dental insurance.
  • Child Care Fee Subsidy: Assists families with costs for licensed child care.
    • Criteria: Each guardian must be working or in school, or the child must need extra help.
  • Diaper Bank of Toronto: Supplies diapers through various local agencies. Contact an agency on their “Partners Page” to request diapers.
  • EarlyON Child and Family Centres: Offer free programs for caregivers and children from birth to age 6.
  • Healthy Smiles Ontario: Provides free preventive, routine and emergency dental services for children and youth aged 0-17 from low-income families.
    • Criteria: Family must receive Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support, OR receive Temporary Care Assistance or Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities, OR the child lives in a low-income household.
  • Infant Food Bank: Offers free infant formula and food, such as cereal. Call or text 211 to find a location near you.
  • Once Upon a Child: Buys and sells gently used children’s clothing, shoes, toys and baby gear. Locations include:
    • 45 Overlea Boulevard (East York)
    • 1020 Islington Avenue (Etobicoke)
    • 1520 Steeles Avenue West (Concord)
    • 1001 Sandhurst Circle (Scarborough)
  • Toronto Public Libraries: Provides free programs for everyone.
  • Toronto Parks & Recreation: Offers a list of free activities for children and families, including fitness, arts, cooking classes, skating, dance and playgrounds.
  • Mennonite New Life Centre (MNLC): Offers programs to help newcomers adjust, integrate and contribute their skills and voices to the community in Ontario.
  • Newcomer Women's Services Toronto: Supports newcomer women and families by connecting them to social and job opportunities. Programs offered include:
    • Canadian citizenship classes
    • Conversation circles
    • English language classes
    • Job support
    • Settlement help
    • Sister2Sister Advanced and Community Leadership
    • Youth Job Connection
  • Settlement.org: A helpful website providing information and resources for newcomers settling in Ontario.
  • The Neighbourhood Group Newcomer Services: Offers support for adjusting to life in Canada. Services include:
    • Conflict coaching and mediation
    • Connections
    • Conversation circles
    • Language training
    • New Knowledge/New Steps
    • Newcomer Youth Leadership Centre
    • Refugee sponsorship
    • Settlement services
    • Support for pregnant people and new mothers
    • Women's programs
  • WoodGreen: Offers settlement services to immigrants and refugees, assisting both individuals and families. Government services they assist with include:
    • Citizenship test preparation
    • Education
    • English language classes
    • Health care access
    • Housing
    • Jobs
  • Benefits Wayfinder: A guide to help you find government benefits based on your needs.
  • Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP): Free tax clinics where volunteers assist people in filing income tax and benefit returns to ensure they get the benefits they deserve.
    • Criteria: You must have a modest income and a simple tax situation
  • Ontario Works (OW): Provides financial assistance for basic needs, such as food and housing, to those in financial difficulty. It also helps with other costs, such as clothing, prescription medications and other health-related expenses.
    • Criteria: You must be at least 18 years old, in need of financial help and willing to make reasonable efforts to find or keep a job.
  • Personal Finance Programs at Toronto Public Library: Attend seminars or workshops led by financial experts. These sessions are focused on helping you make the most of your money at different stages of your life, from dealing with student loans to managing your RRSP.
  • Anishnawbe Health Toronto: This organization has a team of professionals offering a range of services. They provide primary care, chiropody (foot care), physical therapy, traditional healing, and ceremonies. They also have a clinic for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) diagnosis and mental health services. These services include walk-in counselling, therapy for children and families, psychiatric consultations, psychological assessments, couples counselling, support and advocacy, services for two-spirit and transgender individuals, and peer monitoring. Programs include:
    • Aboriginal Mental Health and Addictions (AMHA)
    • Babish Khan Circle of Care (CoC)
    • Community health worker training
    • Diabetes education
    • FASD prevention
    • Indigenous Supportive Housing
    • Kitchiniigaan Noongom Maternal Infant Program
    • Oshkii Okitchiidak Youth Program
    • Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM)
    • Youth Outreach Worker (YOW)
  • Jordan's Principle: This program helps families understand what support is available for their child and how to access it. It makes sure families get the necessary services and products, as well as funding without delays.
    • Criteria: The child must be either registered under the Indian Act, have a guardian registered under the Indian Act, be recognized by their nation for the purposes of Jordan’s Principle, or usually live on the reserve.
  • Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB): This program covers costs for vision and dental care, mental health counselling, medical supplies and equipment, prescription and over-the-counter medications, and transportation for medical purposes.
    • Criteria: You must be registered under the Indian Act or recognized as an Inuk.
  • Assaulted Women's Helpline: This helpline offers free, private and anonymous support by phone. You can talk to someone about your situation and connect with other resources.
  • Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic: Provides legal help, counselling and translation services for those in need.
  • Interval House: Offers important services and safety planning for those facing intimate partner violence. Their resource page includes crisis hotlines, legal assistance and shelter information.
  • Community and Legal Aid Services Program (CLASP): Provides free legal advice to low-income people in Toronto. They focus on three main areas:
    • Administrative law
    • Criminal law
    • Immigration law
  • Downtown Legal Services: This free service helps low-income people and University of Toronto students who pay fees and live in Toronto, helping them with legal problems within certain areas.
  • Legal Aid Ontario: If you meet certain requirements, this organization will help pay for a lawyer.
  • Pro Bono Ontario: Assists people in Ontario who need legal help but can’t afford a lawyer.
  • Bleed the North: You can request free period products by filling out a form online.
  • Food Banks, Shelters and Ontario Public School Boards: These organizations offer free menstrual and incontinence products. For more information, call or text 211.
  • Fair Pass Transit Discount Program: Offers a 36 per cent discount on adult single-ride fares and a 21 per cent discount on monthly passes for the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC).
    • Criteria: You must be between 20 and 64 years old, have an activated PRESTO card, and your income must be below the 75th percentile of the low-income threshold after taxes.
  • GO Transit Kids and Students: If you’re 13 to 19 years old or a full-time college or university student, you can save 40 per cent on train or bus fares using a PRESTO card. Children aged 0-12 can travel for free.
  • GO Transit Seniors: Seniors aged 65 and older receive a 55 per cent discount on fares with their PRESTO card.
  • Wheel-Trans: Offers safe and reliable transportation for people with disabilities.
  • Emergency Energy Fund (EEF): Assists people facing an energy emergency, helping with reconnecting services, preventing disconnections or paying hydro, gas or oil bills.
    • Criteria: You cannot be receiving Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program.
  • Energy Affordability Program: Helps low-income households manage electricity costs and improve home comfort.
    • Criteria: You must be a low-income household and have received help from LEAP or OESP in the last year (see below).
  • Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) Grant: Offers emergency help for electricity or natural gas bills.
    • Criteria: You must be a low-income household.
  • Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP): Lowers electricity bills by giving monthly credits.
    • Criteria: You must be a low-income household
  • Property Tax, Water and Solid Waste Relief Programs: These programs help with property taxes, water bills and waste disposal fees. They have different options like the Property Tax Increase Cancellation Program, Property Tax Increase Deferral Program, Water Rebate Program and Solid Waste Rebate Program.
    • Criteria: You must be a low-income senior or a low-income person with a disability.