Legal Aid Ontario
Legal Aid Ontario pays lawyers to represent you at your asylum claim hearing by giving lawyers certificates, which are like vouchers for legal services, if you cannot afford a lawyer in Ontario. You can take a legal aid certificate to a lawyer and use it to “pay” for that lawyer’s services for a certain number of hours.
- Telephone: +1-800-668-8258
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit their website
- Address: Atrium on Bay, 40 Dundas Street West, Suite 200 Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2H1
- Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Canadian Red Cross First Contact Program
The Canadian Red Cross First Contact Program provides accurate information about emergency shelter, social services, legal and health services, walk through orientation and general information that includes a high-level review of the refugee determination process, Interim Federal Health, legal aid, the shelter system, social services, English classes, work permits and more, and provides 24/7 telephone information and referral services, focused primarily on after-office-hours referrals for newly arriving refugee claimants.
- Telephone: 416-480-2500 options 1 & 1
Toll-Free: 1-866-902-4993 - Email: [email protected]
- Visit their website
- Address : Etobicoke Satellite Branch, 557 Dixon Road, Unit 122, Etobicoke, ON (Dixon Road and Martin Grove Road)
- Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm (except on public holidays)
YMCA/YWCA Newcomer Information Centre (NIC) in Ottawa
Staff at the NIC will explain the important steps and help you decide on your priorities. They will also connect you to legal advice and settlement services, and help you find shelter or register for financial help.
- Telephone: +1-613-788-5001
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit their website
- Address: 180 Argyle Avenue, 4th floor, Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 0N2
- Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm
Ontario Coalition of Service Providers for Refugee Claimants
The Ontario Coalition of Service Providers for Refugee Claimants includes refugee houses and agencies who work with vulnerable populations across Southern Ontario and two in the United States.