Searching for Shelter For Abused Women

All in-person services are by appointment only; services are also offered virtually, by phone or video conference

Provides confidential and free support for Francophone women affected by sexual assault including the following:

• Accompaniment
• Advocacy
• Community liaison and development
• Counselling and peer support
• Information and referral
• Practical assistance

Also provides:

• Free lending library
• Prevention programs
• Public education
• Volunteer training

Satellite office located in:

• Geraldton

Operates a 10 bed emergency women's shelter

• Provides legal advice and assistance to residents within the District of Thunder Bay, particularly Indigenous people who, because of poverty, geographic isolation, or language differences, do not have access to traditional existing legal services
• Focuses on helping people get income maintenance benefits and maintain access to housing
• Provides services at no cost to individuals who meet eligibility criteria
• Provides advice, assistance, and representation in courts or tribunals
• Facilitates legal education workshops in appropriate areas of law

Note: No advice or representation is given regarding Family law or Criminal Law. No legal advice is given through Facebook due to confidentiality issues (call clinic directly)

Law students, under the direct supervision of licensed lawyers, provide free legal advice and representation to low income earners who cannot afford to pay for legal services

Provides services in the following areas:

• Minor criminal offences such as common assault, theft under $5000, and mischief to property under $5000
• Provincial and traffic offences such as trespass to property, careless driving, speeding tickets, driving with no insurance, and driving under suspended licence
• Small Claims Court and Civil disputes under $35,000
• Tenant rights and applications to the Landlord and Tenant Board
• Simple wills and Powers of Attorney
• Employment law
• Applications to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board

Beginning September 2021, free immigration and refugee law services will be offered

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 individualized 24 hour emergency service to victims and survivors of sexual assault and/or domestic violence
• Provides emergency medical assessment and treatment
• Provides initial emotional and social support as well as ongoing follow-up care by specially trained nurses

Provides initial emergency care only with the patient's informed consent, and may include all or part of the following:

• Assessment and treatment of injuries
• Testing/treatment/prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STI) including HIV
• Emergency contraceptives
• Reassurance and emotional support
• Collection of forensic evidence including photographs
• Risk assessment and safety planning
• Referral for medical follow-up
• Referral to appropriate social services agencies
• Referral to shelter and or other relevant community resources
• Police involvement, at victims request
• Storage of forensic evidence for up to six months if the patient is uncertain about involving the authorities

Provides optional follow-up services accessible through the Sexual Assault/ Domestic Violence Victim Treatment Centre (SA/DVTC) that may include:

• Reassessment of injuries
• Further consideration of safety
• Continuing treatment and monitoring of STIs (including Hepatitis and HIV)
• Further photographs if indicated
• Appropriate referrals

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

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

Provides assistance in specialized courts such as:

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

Note: Criminal duty counsel cannot assist with trials

• 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

• Provides professional counselling services
• Offers faith-based counselling if requested
• Offers the Family Strengthening program

Counselling services include help with:

• Abuse and neglect
• Addictions
• Depression and anxiety
• Eating disorders
• Grief
• Residential school experiences
• Self-esteem and identity
• Trauma

Note: This agency is part of a larger faith-based registered charity but individuals do not have to conform to a specific belief system in order to participate in counselling

Assists individuals with family law issues who are being assisted by Legal Aid Ontario

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

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 emergency shelter for women and children who require safe accommodations and are seeking refuge from abuse
• Allows women and children to stay up to 6 weeks

Offers the following services to residents of the shelter:

• Crisis and supportive counselling
• Safety planning

• Provides 24/7 telephone support, including via text
• Offers an 8 hour mobile unit to provide in-person crisis assessment
• Operates a short-term Crisis Support Residence

Telephone support provides the following:

• Crisis assessment and intervention
• Follow-up
• Referrals to other community services
• Support to family and friends
• Wellness Planning

Please note: CMHA branch offerings are subject to change in response to the ongoing developments of COVID-19. The website below will reflect the most accurate and current information.

Follow this link to determine how service delivery is being provided by choosing the appropriate CMHA location from the website's drop down list.

• Offers culturally appropriate counselling services to Indigenous women by Indigenous women, via telephone, text, or chat

Offers services in 14 languages, including:

• Oji-Cree
• Cree
• Algonquin
• Inuktitut
• Mohawk
• Oneida
• Odawa
• Potawatomi
• Micmac
• Black Foot
• Anishnaabe
• Moose Cree
• Swampy Cree
• English

Provides the following support services to women 55 and older:

• Advocacy
• Assistance with housing applications
• Individual and group counselling
• Legal aid and court appointments
• Safety planning

Assists community members with the following legal matters:

• Criminal Law if custody is probable
• Family Law
• Child Welfare

Note: Does not help with civil law, employment law, human rights, housing, or social assistance (contact a Community Legal Worker (CLW) for a referral)

Provides safety and shelter to Indigenous women and children experiencing abuse

Provides women and children with a variety of services, including:

• Assessment to determine needs
• Counselling
• Crisis support line
• Follow-up after leaving the shelter
• Referrals to other community programs
• Personal safety plan

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 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