Searching for Shelter For Abused Women

• 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 crisis intervention services to individuals affected by family violence

• Offers immediate on site or telephone assistance
• Dispatches call to police when deemed necessary
• Dispatches other supports if 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

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

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 crisis intervention services to individuals affected by mental health issues

• Offers immediate on-site or telephone assistance
• Ensures victims receive support and assistance to secure their safety
• Provides advocacy on behalf of individuals and families dealing with various agencies
• Provides information and referrals to appropriate resources and services
• Dispatches call to police when deemed necessary

• Offers emergency shelter for abused women and their children
• Provides emergency transportation to the shelter
• Offers a 24-hour crisis line
• Provides counselling to women and children
• Facilitates safety planning
• Provides crisis intervention
• Advocates and offers support to victims of sexual assault
• Provides information about legal and housing rights
• Offers community education and awareness

Also provides the following:

• Laundry facilities
• Prepared dinner meals
• Communal living environment where residents assist with chores
• Outside playground for children

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

Operates a short term emergency shelter for women who have been victims of physical, emotional, sexual or financial abuse, and their children

• Provides public education workshops and seminars to raise awareness about the issues and impacts of violence against women and children
• Gratefully accepts donations of money, furniture, lightly used clothing or any household items or appliances

Services provided include:

• 24-hour crisis line
• Advocacy
• Child Support Worker
• Counselling support
• Court accompaniment and referrals
• Emergency transportation
• Referral to community services
• Transition and safety planning

Transitional Support Services

Provides assistance in safety planning for women and their children through the following services:

• Counselling
• Educational upgrading
• Health and wellness services
• Housing
• Income support
• Job training
• Legal assistance/legal aid
• Parental support

Provides crisis intervention services 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

Includes the following services:

• Debriefing and stabilization following crisis situation
• Advocacy on behalf of individuals and families dealing with various agencies
• Information about/referrals to appropriate resources and services

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)

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 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 immediate, short term crisis intervention services to individuals affected by family violence, crime and tragedy
• Offers immediate on site or telephone assistance
• Dispatches call to police when deemed necessary
• Ensures victims receive support and assistance to secure their safety
• Provides information and referrals to appropriate resources and services
• Advocates on behalf of victims

Support services 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 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

• 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

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

• 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, 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 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