Searching for Refugees

Pre-employment development programs including career exploration and setting goals, assistance with training sessions and skills and/or education upgrading, and individual assistance in addressing barriers to employment, health and housing

• hands-on training and work experience
• hospitality employment training
• peer training programs
• newcomer employment programming
• drop-in services
• one on one employment services

Independent administrative tribunal responsible for making decisions on immigration-related matters

Refugee Protection Division: panel determines refugee claims, for more detailed information, click irb.gc.ca/en/applying-refugee-protection/Pages/index.aspx

• appeals of negative decisions may be heard at Refugee Appeal Division or other bodies, for more information, click irb.gc.ca/en/filing-refugee-appeal/Pages/index.aspx

Immigration Appeal Division: hears appeals on immigration-related matters including sponsorships, removal orders, and residency obligations, for more information click irb.gc.ca/en/making-immigration-appeal/Pages/index.aspx

Detention Reviews and Admissibility Hearings: detention reviews and admissibility hearings conducted for persons believed to be inadmissible or removable from Canada; for more information, click irb.gc.ca/en/detention-hearings/Pages/index.aspx

• regulated occupation (for example, nursing, engineering, etc.)
• non-regulated occupation currently in demand, such as information technology, financial services

Provides support in accessing HIV medical care and medications, immigration services and other social services, as well as delivering practical support services

HIV Medical and Medication Access

• assists people living with HIV in getting connected to HIV medical care and HIV medications
• helps people access drug coverage through Ontario Works (OW), Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Trillium Drug Program and free drug coverage from pharmaceutical companies
• accompany Community Members to medical appointments to provide translation, support and advocacy
• financial assistance for medical and medication costs (while finances are available)

Income Support

• help people living with HIV/AIDS access government assistance programs such as as OW, ODSP, Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Employment Insurance
• provides financial assistance for health and wellness needs

Immigration Support

• assists people living with HIV/AIDS access immigration support, including getting a legal aid certificate, referrals to lawyers who specialize in HIV
• offers language support in languages such as Spanish, Swahili, Amharic and French
• accompanies people to their immigration/legal appointments to provide interpretation, support and advocacy
• helps Community Members complete immigration applications

Food Programs

• Essentials Market weekly food bank, including pet food (member of Daily Bread Food Bank)
• Food for Life: bi-weekly meal delivery program and delivery of items from the Essentials Market

Other Support Programs

• information and referral to other services such as mental health, housing, employment and legal services
• pet programs including financial assistance for vet bills, pet food, referrals to vets with discounted services, low cost spay/neutering and foster program in partnership with the Toronto Humane Society, see separate listing
• free haircuts on-site
• harm reduction kits, including used equipment drop-off and safer sex supplies on-site

Complementary Therapies

• hosts on-site free massage and acupuncture clinics in partnership with local colleges

Educational and Cultural Groups

• offers the Hassle Free HIV+ Women's Group as well as the Golden Girls Group for HIV+ Women over 60
• provides educational workshops for people living with HIV around HIV disclosure, U=U and harm reduction
• Saturday Social Club - play games and socialize

Engagement and Volunteer Programs

• opportunities for Community Members to volunteer and/or become Community Mobilizers
• engagement/volunteer programs including POWER (Positive Women's Empowerment and Resiliency) program, Men's Health, PHA Patient Instructor health educator program, front desk, Essentials Market, delivery and Therapeutic Care

• orientation, information and support services

• Set goals to achieve
• Utilize your expertise and experience

• LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) and CLIC (Cours de langue pour les immigrants au Canada), upon assessment by YMCA of Greater Toronto, see separate listing

• Supply Chain Management

• online program in the financial services sector

• career planning
• mentorship, coaching and interview preparation
• resume and cover letter support
• work placement

Short term emergency shelter, including meals, information and referral, settlement orientation, assistance with immigration procedures, housing search, life skills development, and in-house health clinic for residents

• capacity 60

Satellite Shelter: short term emergency shelter at 250 Queen St E

• capacity 34 single men
• services and meals at main location

Family Shelter: shelter for families at 165 Grange Ave

• capacity of approximately 225 persons, 78 rooms

Outreach Program: for refugees in shelters and follow-up service to clients who have moved into the community

Housing Stabilization Program: ensures clients find the health care or financial supports they need to maintain housing

Transitional Housing Program: 52 supportive housing units for clients needing longer term support up to 2 years

• single or shared accommodation
• coordinated, specialized supports to help residents integrate
• by referral from shelter

Youth Skills for Life: for refugees 16-24 years separated from their families, includes life skills, counselling and social activities to build support network and integrate into community

Assessments program to assess the competencies of health professionals and their readiness to practice in Ontario

• administers examinations to ensure health professionals meet Canadian standards
• learning programs to help health professionals transition to training and practice
• educational programs to support international medical graduates in their transition to residency training

Additional services in the area of test design and administration, and curriculum development and delivery

Online English Classes and Conversation Circles

Beginner, intermediate and high intermediate online English classes; online English conversation club


Settlement and Community Resources

• assessment, information and referral to food programs, clothing and furniture banks, employment centres, schools and education resources, health centres
• assistance with applications for government programs such as Ontario Works, Employment Insurance, Legal Aid, transitional and subsidized housing

Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Services

• assistance with applications for citizenship, passports and protected person travel documents
• help with spouse, common-law partner and child sponsorship applications
• refugee system navigation and related procedures such as work/study permits, permanent resident applications as protected person/Convention refugee
• assistance with applications to become permanent resident based on Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) grounds
• help with permanent resident card and other Canadian identification forms
• assistance with study permit renewal and work permit applications for international students; information about pathways to become permanent residents
• help for migrant workers such as work permit assistance for vulnerable people

Spiritual Care

• provided through chaplain
• referral and resources for different religious communities
• one-on-one spiritual counselling
• ceremonies such as weddings, funerals and prayers

Emergency shelter, including meals, counselling and support, orientation and interpretation, referrals, medical support, outreach and housing support, child care

• capacity 106
• length of stay depends on need

Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Shelter, see separate listing

Medical, mental health, settlement and social support services including integrated anti-human trafficking support; research and education

Mental Health Counselling and Support

• confidential assessment, counselling, crisis intervention and support services
• individual, family and group counselling, and mutual support groups
• service coordination and referral to treatment
• contact for information on available languages

Settlement Services

• needs assessment
• orientation
• supportive counselling
• interpretation and translation services
• employment counselling and computer training
• peer support groups
• referrals to outside resources, including housing, social services, legal and medical help, skills training, cultural groups, and recreational programs
• assistance with documentation and completing applications

Children, Youth, and Parent Programs

• specialized settlement services for children and their families to deal with trauma and restore family functioning
• homework club, individual tutoring, education counselling, leadership development, and summer recreation programs
• workshops such as job interview skills, employment training, driver education, health and sexual health, education options
• parent supports such as counselling, school and child welfare systems navigation, assistance accessing child care and completing subsidies applications
• assistance accessing free or affordable community programs

Language and Skills Training

• English as a Second Language (ESL)
• computer classes
• citizenship preparation classes
• participates in LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) in English, upon assessment by YMCA of Greater Toronto, see separate listing

Befriending Program

• community support for survivors of torture through a network of volunteer befrienders

Full and part time degree, diploma, postgraduate, entrepreneurial and apprenticeship programs

• programs for internationally trained professionals
• continuing education
• distance learning
• employment services
• multiple campuses located in the Greater Toronto Area

• capacity 7

Support to refugee claimants in Canada and abroad

• legal assistance
• crisis intervention and emotional support
• information and referral
• newsletter, magazine

• programs for internationally trained professionals
• continuing education
• distance learning
• three campuses, and multiple sites located in Toronto

Emergency shelter, includes individualized support and group programs, meals, settlement support, assistance in securing and maintaining permanent housing, follow-up

• capacity 20
• 24 hour staff support

Provides training and employment opportunities to job seekers, incumbent workers and employers through a partnership-driven approach

Skills Development Fund Training Stream

• projects support hiring, training, and upskilling to jobseekers, apprentices, and workers

Skills Development Fund Capital Stream

• supports organizations with upgrades or construction of training centres in high-demand jobs, like the skilled trades

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
• income tax clinic February-April
• community development
• employment services including Literacy and Basic Skills
  

Seniors Services
Includes 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 shopping and meal preparation (fee)
• group shopping Fridays, includes round trip transportation to Dufferin Mall or Gerrard Square (fee)
• Mandarin Outreach, including settlement and newcomer services, social and cultural events, support groups and workshops

Assisted Living Program for Seniors
Includes personal care, essential homemaking, emergency response, and care coordination

• 3 participating buildings including Old York Tower, Performing Arts Lodge of Canada, Older Women's Network Co-op

Children and Youth Support
One-on-one peer counselling, and social, recreational, and educational activities

Dixon Hall Music School
Includes individual or group lessons, fees on a sliding scale

Growing Up Healthy Downtown for families of young people in Regent Park, see separate listing

Member agency of Toronto Drop-in Network (TDIN)

Individual and group services, including:

• one-on-one meeting with a Settlement Worker
• need assessment and development of Settlement Plan
• connect with essential resources and referrals to appropriate services
• support for application process and form-filling
• interpretation and translation
• social programming and capacity building workshops
• Conversation English Circle
• basic digital literacy skills development
• citizenship preparation
• financial literacy
• orientation to Ontario and Canada
• Community Connection Programs for reducing barriers and isolation
• networking and making new friends
• promoting cross-cultural awareness

• free on-site child care available (19 months-6 years)
• year round blend of virtual and in-person women-only classes available

• claimants must obtain Legal Aid certificate
• lawyer and paralegal assigned to each case

• programs for internationally trained professionals
• continuing education
• distance learning
• English as a Second Language (ESL) courses

HIV/AIDS education, prevention and support, including information on HIV and STI (sexually transmitted infections) risk, sexual health and healthy relationships, and harm reduction

• community-based prevention programs for youth, women, and gay, bisexual, queer, questioning, trans and other men who have sex with men (MSM)
• community workshops, forums, outreach, training for professionals and organizations, and culturally specific materials
• volunteer opportunities

Harm reduction

• ​supplies and outreach

Peer support

Settlement Program
Counselling and support, needs assessment, outreach and prevention for Black, African and Caribbean immigrants and refugees, including LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning) individuals

• orientation
• information and referrals to community services
• assistance in accessing services
• assistance in finding a doctor and living with treatment
• assistance with immigration system
• form and documentation completion
• housing and employment help
• interpretation and translation
• social opportunities and networking

Member agency of Toronto Drop-in Network (TDIN)