Searching for Shelter For Abused Women

• Operates a 24/7 emergency shelter for abused women and their children
• Coordinates support services for residents
• Provides a 24-hour crisis line
• Accepts donations of clothing and household items
• Provides guidance and assistance in accessing geared-to-income housing in community
• Offers a Family Court Support Worker Program

Second Stage Housing

Offers a secure ten unit apartment building that provides safe, affordable housing for women and their children

Human Trafficking is a criminal offence and involves recruiting, transporting, transferring, receiving, holding, concealing or harbouring a person, or exercising control, direction or influence over the movements of a person, for purpose of exploiting them or facilitating their exploitation

Offers the following services to victims/survivors of human trafficking:

• Provides a confidential 24-hour Crisis Line
• Offers trauma counselling
• Provides outreach to individuals at risk of being victimized
• Offers education, prevention and community supports that will increase awareness and understanding of the causes of human trafficking
• Offers information on police investigation, medical and legal procedures
• Provides individuals advocacy and accompaniment through any procedures they choose
• Offers referrals when requested
• Provides information and support for families and friends of the victim or survivor of human trafficking

Provides mobile crisis intervention services to individuals affected by family violence

• Provides immediate on site intervention or telephone assistance
• Dispatches call to police when deemed necessary
• Ensures victims receive support and assistance to secure their safety
• Arranges meeting family members at centre or agreed upon location to discuss possible crisis resolutions
• Provides advocacy on behalf of individuals and families dealing with various agencies
• Provides information and referrals to appropriate resources and services

Office is accessible via appointment only; If you require assistance from Victim Services, you must leave a message with dispatch; non-urgent calls are responded to within one business day

• Offers on-site early intervention and crisis intervention
• Provides needs assessment, safety planning and referrals to community services
• Offers enhanced support for vulnerable victims
• Provides assistance with applications to VQRP+

Victim Quick Response Program+ (VQRP+)
Provides assistance with emergency expenses related to the eligible incident, including:

• home safety
• accommodation
• meals
• transportation
• basic necessities
• dependent care costs
• counselling
• traditional Indigenous health services
• cellular phones
• vision care
• dental care
• aids for victims with disabilities
• interpretation services
• crime scene cleanup
• government/medical documents
• funeral expenses

Additional assistance for victims of human trafficking includes:

• storage locker
• tattoo removal
• treatment at a recovery facility

Note: No direct reimbursement to victims for above supports

Financial support also available for:

• victims who sustained serious physical injuries during a crime
• parents of child homicide victims
• spouses of homicide victims

Provides services to victims/survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and sexual/physical violence

• Responds to physical, psychological, social and medico-legal needs
• Provides community education

Coordinates direct services including:

• Crisis counselling
• Immediate and follow-up nursing care
• Medical care and treatment of injuries
• Sexual Assault Evidence Kit by request
• Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) testing and treatment
• Collaboration, liaison with other community agencies to provide child sexual assault and physical abuse services

Emergency room care

Provides diagnostic and treatment services for individuals who have acute life-threatening injuries or severe illnesses

Psychiatric Emergency Services

• Provides psychiatric assessments by a team of nurse managers, psychiatrists and residents

Sexual Assault and Partner Abuse Care Program

• Provides initial emergency care only with the patient's informed consent
• Provides follow-up services accessible through the Victim Treatment Centre (VTC) follow-up Nurse

• Provides immediate legal assistance to individuals appearing in court without a lawyer
• Informs individuals about legal rights, obligations and the court process
• Provides assistance in the courtroom for bail hearings and sentencing
• Assists with diversions, guilty pleas and adjournments
• Helps determine if further duty counsel services are required or if the matter requires Legal Aid Ontario's assistance in retaining a lawyer

May provide assistance in specialized courts including:

• Aboriginal persons (Gladue) court
• Domestic violence
• Drug treatment
• Mental health

Note: Criminal Duty Counsel cannot assist with trials

Provides information and assistance to support participation in and understanding of the criminal court process

• services begin once police have laid charges and continue until the court case is over
• information about victims' rights, the criminal justice process and their specific case (e.g., court dates)
• needs assessment and referrals to community agencies
• crisis intervention, emotional support, victim advocacy
• facilitates victim's input and liaises with Crown Attorneys, police, regarding bail, safety, resolution of charges, release conditions, publication bans, testimonial aids, trial preparation and court orientation
• information and support on Victim Impact Statements, Statement on Restitution
• facilitates access to court orders, such as bail conditions, probation orders, peace bonds
• debriefing and follow-up support

Vulnerable Victims and Family Fund

Provides financial and court-based supports to enable victims of crime and families of homicide victims to attend court, including:

• Travel arrangements and expenses
• Language interpretation
• Real-time captioning or other equipment for victims with disabilities

Provides legal assistance for low-income people

Services include:

• Legal representation for eligible clients who appear in court without a lawyer
• Legal aid applications and information over the phone
• Legal resources and referrals to other social assistance agencies
• A legal aid certificate program which enables a client to retain a lawyer for complex and serious cases

Areas of law served include:

• Criminal
• Domestic violence
• Family
• Immigration and refugee

Does NOT cover applications for:

• Wrongful dismissal
• Change of name
• Personal bankruptcy
• Power of attorney
• Money lent to others or money owed to others
• Sponsorship of relatives
• Commercial litigation
• Real estate matters and libel
• Defamation and slander

Provides legal advice and assistance to individuals who do not have the means to assert or defend their legal rights through the following services:

• Client representation in clinic areas of practice
• Free summary legal advice
• Information and referral
• Law reform advocacy
• Public education
• Specialized legal services

Services are offered in the following areas:

• Birth certificates
• Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Disability or Pension benefits
• Canada Child Benefits (CCB)
• Consumer and Credit/Debt issues
• Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (CICB)
• Disability Tax benefits
• Employment Insurance (EI)
• Employment Standards (ESA)
• Human Rights
• Native Status applications
• Old Age Security (OAS)
• Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
• Ontario Works
• Residential Tenancies (tenants only)

Works to eradicate the social conditions that contribute to violence against women and children, through public education, lobbying and political action

• Provides a confidential 24-hour Crisis Line
• Offers individual and/or group counselling
• Offers information on police investigation, medical and legal procedures
• Provides individuals advocacy and accompaniment through any procedures they choose including attending the hospital
• Offers referrals when requested
• Provides information and support for families and friends of the victim or survivor
• Offers education and prevention through public awareness
• Provides resource materials, books, films, videos and reports, all available to the public

• Offers on-site early intervention and crisis intervention
• Provides needs assessment, safety planning and referrals to community services
• Offers enhanced support for vulnerable victims
• Provides assistance with applications to VQRP+

Victim Quick Response Program+ (VQRP+)

Provides assistance with emergency expenses related to the eligible incident, including:

• home safety
• accommodation
• meals
• transportation
• basic necessities
• dependent care costs
• counselling
• traditional Indigenous health services
• cellular phones
• vision care
• dental care
• aids for victims with disabilities
• interpretation services
• crime scene cleanup
• government/medical documents
• funeral expenses

Additional assistance for victims of human trafficking includes:

• storage locker
• tattoo removal
• treatment at a recovery facility

Note: No direct reimbursement to victims for above supports

Financial support also available for:

• victims who sustained serious physical injuries during a crime
• parents of child homicide victims
• spouses of homicide victims

Sexual Assault Counselling

• Provides individual counselling to victims and their families

Provides information and assistance to support participation in and understanding of the criminal court process

• services begin once police have laid charges and continue until the court case is over
• information about victims' rights, the criminal justice process and their specific case (e.g., court dates)
• needs assessment and referrals to community agencies
• crisis intervention, emotional support, victim advocacy
• facilitates victim's input and liaises with Crown Attorneys, police, regarding bail, safety, resolution of charges, release conditions, publication bans, testimonial aids, trial preparation and court orientation
• information and support on Victim Impact Statements, Statement on Restitution
• facilitates access to court orders, such as bail conditions, probation orders, peace bonds
• debriefing and follow-up support

Vulnerable Victims and Family Fund

Provides financial and court-based supports to enable victims of crime and families of homicide victims to attend court, including:

• Travel arrangements and expenses
• Language interpretation
• Real-time captioning or other equipment for victims with disabilities

Provides crisis intervention services to community in crisis situations and to individuals affected by family violence and suicide

• Offers immediate on site or telephone assistance
• Dispatches call to police when deemed necessary
• Ensures victims receive support and assistance to secure their safety
• Arranges meeting family members at centre or agreed upon location to discuss possible crisis resolutions

Also coordinates:

• Crisis plan to follow in response to suicide intervention, domestic violence intervention and any other form of crisis situations that may arise in community
• Information sessions and workshops on techniques for healing strategies

Support Services

Supports can include but are not limited to:

• Debriefing and stabilization following crisis situation
• Advocacy on behalf of individuals and families dealing with various agencies
• Meal preparation, transportation, homemaking and other areas requiring support for families in crisis situations such as the suicide of a youth
• Information about/referrals to appropriate resources and services

Provides crisis intervention services to community in crisis situations and to individuals affected by family violence and suicide

• Offers immediate on site or telephone assistance
• Dispatches call to police when deemed necessary
• Ensures victims receive support and assistance to secure their safety
• Arranges meeting family members at centre or agreed upon location to discuss possible crisis resolutions

Also coordinates:

• Crisis plan to follow in response to suicide intervention, domestic violence intervention and any other form of crisis situations that may arise in community
• Information sessions and workshops on techniques for healing strategies

Support Services

Supports can include but are not limited to:

• Debriefing and stabilization following crisis situation
• Advocacy on behalf of individuals and families dealing with various agencies
• Meal preparation, transportation, homemaking and other areas requiring support for families in crisis situations such as the suicide of a youth
• Information about/referrals to appropriate resources and services

Operates a short-term emergency shelter for abused women and their children

• Provides a 24-hour crisis line
• Accommodates a maximum of 10 individuals

Coordinates the following support services for residents:

• Helps women understand options to assist in making life choices
• Offers assistance in accessing housing, legal and other community services
• Offers individual counselling

• Provides duty counsel legal assistance to individuals appearing in court without a lawyer
• Informs individuals about legal rights, obligations and the court process
• Provides assistance in the courtroom for bail hearings and sentencing
• Assists with diversions, guilty pleas and adjournments
• Helps determine if further duty counsel services are required or if the matter requires Legal Aid Ontario's assistance in retaining a lawyer

May provide assistance in specialized courts including:

• Aboriginal persons (Gladue) court
• Domestic violence
• Drug treatment
• Mental health

Note: Criminal Duty Counsel cannot assist with trials

Provides services to female and male survivors of sexual assault and/or abuse, including human trafficking survivors

Service offered include:

Counselling

• One-on-one trauma informed counselling
• Crisis counselling and intervention
• Group counselling

Client Advocacy

• Accompaniment, advocacy and referrals to police, court, hospital, lawyers, social services and community agencies
• Support and assistance throughout the process

Support Groups

• Female and male survivors of sexual assault and/or abuse
• Youth and teens support
• Historic sexual abuse

Provides information, nursing care and treatment services for individuals who have been sexually assaulted or have experienced intimate partner violence

Offers any/all of the following optional services:

• A safe place to be heard
• Advocacy for the rights and safety of the survivor
• Appropriate legal documentation of injuries
• Care and treatment
• Collection of accurate forensic evidence
• Emergency contraceptive pill (if within 72 hours of assault)
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing
• Referrals to counselling and community agencies
• Treatment for sexually transmitted infections

Child and Youth Prevention Services

• Provides support and prevention services for children and youth focused on bullying, healthy relationships, teen dating violence and intimate partner abuse
• Partners with local schools, parents and community services to provide interactive presentations/workshops

Member agency of Support Services Network for Male Survivors in Ontario

Emergency room care

• Provides 24-hour coverage by on-site or on-call physicians, advanced technological and diagnostic capabilities, and additional specialty services
• Provides immediate treatment for emergency situations - including acute or life-threatening illnesses or injuries

Sexual Assault and Partner Abuse Care Program

• Provides initial emergency care only with the patient's informed consent
• Provides follow-up services accessible through the Victim Treatment Centre (VTC) follow-up Nurse

Provides confidential emergency and follow-up care to individuals who have been sexually assaulted or are the victims or survivors of intimate partner abuse

Provides the following supports:

• Supportive crisis counselling
• Physical assessment and examination
• Documentation of injuries
• Collection of forensic evidence
• Testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and/or pregnancy at client's choice
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) post-exposure prophylaxis

Emergency room care

• Provides diagnostic and treatment services for individuals who have acute life-threatening injuries or severe illnesses
• Provides initial assessment through Nursing staff, before on-call Physician contacted

Sexual Assault and Partner Abuse Care Program

• Provides initial emergency care only with the patient's informed consent
• Provides follow-up services accessible through the Victim Treatment Centre (VTC) follow up Nurse

• Offers on-site early intervention and crisis intervention
• Provides needs assessment, safety planning and referrals to community services
• Offers enhanced support for vulnerable victims
• Provides assistance with applications to VQRP+

Victim Quick Response Program+ (VQRP+)

Provides assistance with emergency expenses related to the eligible incident, including:

• home safety
• accommodation
• meals
• transportation
• basic necessities
• dependent care costs
• counselling
• traditional Indigenous health services
• cellular phones
• vision care
• dental care
• aids for victims with disabilities
• interpretation services
• crime scene cleanup
• government/medical documents
• funeral expenses

Additional assistance for victims of human trafficking includes:

• storage locker
• tattoo removal
• treatment at a recovery facility

Note: No direct reimbursement to victims for above supports

Financial support also available for:

• victims who sustained serious physical injuries during a crime
• parents of child homicide victims
• spouses of homicide victims

Volunteers

• Recruits individuals to provide support to victims
• Provides individuals with specialized training at no cost

Volunteers will:

• Assist in developing a personalized safety plan for the victim
• Provide information about legal assistance and programs
• Offer referrals to long-term service providers within the community
• Provide temporary practical and emotional support