manual for refugees

A Resource Guidefor Refugee Claimants

1 - A R e s o u r c e G u i d e f o rConnecting to your new Community

911For police, fire department and ambulance services. Call this number only if it’s an emergency.

416-808 2222 Police- Non-Emergency

416-340 8844 AIDS Hotline

416-863 0511 Assaulted Victims Help Line

416-392 6655 Hunger Hotline

(416-397 4636 after hours)

EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS

R e f u g e e C l a i m a n t s

The Canadian Red Cross is part of

the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

Together with more than 178 national societies,

the organization is focused on one goal:

to improve the situation of the most vulnerable.

We help deal with situations that threaten:

• their survival and safety

• their security and well being

• their human dignity

both in Canada and around the world,

in accordance with the Fundamental Principles of the

Red Cross.

2

Our Mission

- A R e s o u r c e G u i d e f o r3 Connecting to your new Community

The Red Cross, born of a desire to bringassistance without discrimination to thewounded on the battle field, endeavours in itsInternational and National capacity to preventand alleviate human suffering wherever it maybe found. Its purpose is to protect life andhealth and to ensure respect for the humanbeing. It promotes mutual understanding,friendship, cooperation and lasting peaceamongst all peoples.

It makes no discrimination as to nationality,race, religious beliefs, class or politicalopinions. It endeavours only to relieve suffering, giving priority to the most urgentcases of distress.

In order to continue to enjoy the confi-dence of all, the Red Cross may not takesides in hostilities or engage at any time incontroversies of a political, racial, religiousor ideological nature.

The Red Cross is independent. The NationalSocieties while auxiliaries in the humanitarianservices of their governments and subject tothe laws of their respective countries, mustalways maintain their autonomy so that theymay be able at all times to act in accordancewith Red Cross principles.

The Red Cross is a volunteer relief organization not prompted in any mannerby desire for gain.

There can be only one Red Cross Societyin any one Country. It must be open to all.It must carry on its humanitarian workthroughout its territory.

The Red Cross is a worldwide institution inwhich all Societies have equal status andshare equal responsibilities and duties inhelping each other.

Humanity

Impartiality

Neutrality

Independence

Voluntary Service

Unity

Universality

The Fundamental Principles

The Fundamental Principles were proclaimed by the XXth International Conference of the Red Cross, Vienna, 1965. This is the revised text contained in the Statutes of the

International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, adopted by the XXVth InternationalConference of the Red Cross, Geneva, 1986.

R e f u g e e C l a i m a n t s 4

The Canadian Red Cross wishes to thank all of the organizations

that contributed ideas, material and financial support to this resource manual.

These organizations include:

The FCJ Hamilton House, the Government of Canada, Settlement.Org and

Community Information Toronto. Funding for this project is provided by the Government

of Canada's Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative, administered by the City of Toronto.

Thanks also to the Refugee Housing Task Group members

who conceived and helped in the drafting of this resource manual.

Designed by PRM (Positive Results Marketing Inc.)

Acknowledgements


INTRODUCTION

ARRIVING IN TORONTO

Being a refugee in Toronto: pros and cons......................................................................Toronto weather................................................................................................................Public holidays in Canada...............................................................................................

CLAIMING REFUGEE STATUS

Who is recognized as a refugee in Canada?............................................................Who makes decisions about refugee claims in Canada?........................................When can you claim refugee status?........................................................................

Checklist: Refugee claim essentials ..........................................................................Important contacts for processing your refugee claim.............................................Internet resources for refugee claimants...................................................................

Initiating a refugee claim............................................................................................From outside of Canada............................................................................................From inside Canada...................................................................................................

Next steps: after your eligibility interview.................................................................If you are eligible........................................................................................................If you are not eligible.................................................................................................

Things you should know when making your refugee claim....................................Your rights and responsibilities as a refugee claimant ...........................................Your immigration medical health examination ........................................................Your refugee protection hearing................................................................................If your claim is accepted.............................................................................................If your claim is rejected...............................................................................................

The Pre-Removal Risk Assessment..........................................................................Removal from Canada...............................................................................................

LIVING AS A REFUGEE CLAIMANT IN TORONTO

Your first few days in Toronto...................................................................................Temporary shelter........................................................................................................

Refugee-only shelters..........................................................................................Women-only shelters...........................................................................................Men-only shelters................................................................................................ Shelters for young adults....................................................................................Hostels.................................................................................................................

Free hot meals and food.............................................................................................Hot meals.................................................................................................................Food banks................................................................................................................

Permanent accommodation: moving to your own residence.................................Tips on how to find a residence ...............................................................................Tips on what to consider when looking for a residence..........................................Your rights and responsibilities as a tenant.............................................................Telephone service.....................................................................................................Cable TV service......................................................................................................Change of residence................................................................................................

Table of Contents

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1010101011111212121313131415161718181919

2020

20-2420-2420-2420-2420-24

24252526262627272727


Opening a bank account.............................................................................................Bank cards.................................................................................................................Changing banks.........................................................................................................

Getting around: public transportation in Toronto.....................................................How to make your money go further.........................................................................

Where to get things for free.......................................................................................Free clothing.........................................................................................................Free beds...................................................................................................................Free furniture..............................................................................................................Where to get things at a low cost........................................................................Free/low cost communication...................................................................................Voice mail...................................................................................................................Internet access and e-mail........................................................................................

Coping with stress.......................................................................................................What is stress?..........................................................................................................Unhealthy ways of coping with stress.......................................................................Healthy ways of coping with stress...........................................................................Where to get help with stress management..............................................................

GETTING THE SUPPORT YOU NEED AS A REFUGEE CLAIMANT IN TORONTO

Legal aid.......................................................................................................................Finding a good lawyer................................................................................................Qualifying for Legal Aid..............................................................................................Applying for Legal Aid................................................................................................Legal Aid Offices in Toronto.......................................................................................Community Legal Clinics...........................................................................................Community Legal Education Ontario.........................................................................

Health care...................................................................................................................Your healthcare rights................................................................................................Important health services for refugee claimants..................................................

Employment.................................................................................................................Applying for a work permit/authorization and/or student permit..............................Applying for a Social Insurance Number...................................................................Human Resources Development Canada offices in Toronto....................................Job search and computer resources...................................................................Internet job search resources....................................................................................

Social and financial assistance..................................................................................Applying for welfare assistance/Ontario Works benefits...........................................Where to find to apply for social assistance.......................................................

Education.....................................................................................................................Academic equivalency...............................................................................................Professional qualifications.........................................................................................Language training......................................................................................................

Other types of help: NGOs that can help refugee claimants.....................................

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29-303030

30-313131313232323233

343434353536363738

38-3939394040

40-42424242

43-444545454546


This resource guide is primarily for refugee claimants who have arrived in Toronto.It can also be used by organizations that help refugees. The guide provides infor-mation about claiming refugee status and about housing, social services, legaland health services for refugee claimants in the Greater Toronto Area. Newrefugees may also visit First Contact. This drop-in centre provides informationand referral services to refugee claimants. It is located at the Red Cross office at2 Homewood Avenue in Toronto (at the corner of Carlton St. and Jarvis St.).

First Contact’s phone number is 416- 771-9540.

LET US INTRODUCE OURSELVES…

The Toronto Region of Canadian Red Cross and the City of Toronto’sRefugee Housing Task Group (RHTG) produced this resource manual. TheCanadian Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross and Red CrescentMovement. Its focus is to improve the situation of the most vulnerable. TheRed Cross's international mandate is to meet human needs. This includeshelping asylum seekers, regardless of their status. RHTG works to reducehomelessness and to help refugee claimants avoid mistreatment and poverty.It is made up of representatives from the City of Toronto, the provincial gov-ernment, and community groups that provide services for refugees. RHTGalso develops plans to help refugees with settlement, shelter and affordablehousing.

This resource manual was made possible by the generous funding fromSupporting Communities Partnership Initiatives (SCPI). It was researchedand written by staff and volunteers at the Canadian Red Cross First Contactprogram. First Contact helps refugee claimants who have just arrived inToronto and works to ensure that they settle successfully in the community.

We hope this resource manual will help new refugee claimants find reliableand accurate information about services that can help them get settled in theGreater Toronto Area.

Disclaimer:All of the information in this manual was accurate at the time of publication. However, we arenot responsible for changes of information that will occur over time.

Introduction


Welcome to Toronto! Toronto is the largest andmost culturally diverse city inCanada. It is in the provinceof Ontario, which as you willdiscover… is ‘Yours toDiscover’!

Toronto has the largestnumber of immigrants andrefugee claimants of any cityin Canada. For these reasons,settling in Toronto has itspros and cons. For moreinformation on Toronto, visit www.city.toronto.on.ca

8

PROS CONS

SHELTER

JOBS

PEOPE FROM

DIFERENT CULTURES

Settlement servicesThere is a wide range of serviceagencies that can help you get settled and support you through the refugee claim process.

A larger job marketToronto is the business centre ofCanada. Because of this, there area variety of skilled and unskilledjobs available.

Cultural diversityToronto has been rated as theworld’s most culturally diverse city.More than 80 ethnic communitiesare represented in Toronto. Findingorganizations and people familiarwith your ethnic background maybe easier, and may help you adjustto life in Toronto.

Low vacancy rateToronto has a low vacancy rate. This means that there are not manyavailable apartments to rent inToronto. Apartments in Toronto aremore expensive than apartments inother cities in Ontario such as St.Catharines or Hamilton.

A more competitive job market Because so many people live inToronto, competition for jobs is veryintense. Depending on your skillsand qualifications, you might bemore successful finding a job in asmaller city or town

AlienationSome people feel "lost in a crowd"living in a big city like Toronto. If youprefer smaller towns and cities, askyour housing or settlement workerabout areas outside of Toronto.

BEING A REFUGEE IN TORONTO

Arriving in Toronto

Arriving in Toronto


Toronto WeatherWeather conditions in Toronto rangefrom very cold in winter to very hot insummer. Here are the average tem-peratures in Toronto for each month.

A bit about Canadian governmentand politics

• Canada gained independence (fromthe United Kingdom) on 1 July 1867.

• Canada is divided into ten provincesand three territories, in five regions.Toronto is in the province of Ontario.

• The capital of Canada is Ottawa,Ontario.

• The head of the majority party in theCanadian Parliament is the PrimeMinister, who is the Head of Government.

For more on the Government of Canadaplease visit http://www.gc.ca/main_e.html

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

-1 29

-1 30

4 38

10 50

16 61

22 71

25 77

24 76

20 68

13 56

7 45

1 35

-8 18

-7 19

-3 27

3 37

8 46

13 55

16 61

16 62

13 55

7 44

2 35

-5 44

C F C FHi Lo

C = degrees, Celsius F = degrees, Fahrenheit

Public Holidays in Canada

New Year's Day

Victoria Day

Canada Day

Civic orProvincialHoliday

Labour Day

ThanksgivingDay

RemembranceDay

Christmas Day

Boxing Day

1 January

The Monday onor preceding 24 May

1 July

1st Monday inAugust

1st Monday inSeptember

2nd Monday inOctober

11 November

25 December

26 December

If Canada Day falls on a Saturday, the following Monday is a holiday.


WHO IS RECOGNIZED AS AREFUGEE IN CANADA?A refugee claimant is a person whohas arrived in Canada and seeks"Convention Refugee" status. Thisterm refers to the Geneva Convention.A refugee claimant is sometimesreferred to as an asylum seeker.

Since 1969, Canada has adhered tothe 1951 Geneva Convention and the1967 Protocol. These recognise arefugee as a person who:

• Has a well-founded fear of beingpersecuted for reasons of race, reli-gion, nationality, and/or membershipin a particular social group or whoholds a particular political opinion,

• And is outside the country of his orher nationality and cannot or, becauseof fear of persecution, does not wantto avail him- or herself of the protec-tion of that country,

• Or who does not have a nationalityand is outside the country that was hisor her former habitual residence and,because of this and/or because of fearof persecution, cannot not or does notwant to return to it.

Canada has expanded this definitionof refugee to include:

People in need of protection whoseremoval to their country of nationalitywould subject them to:

• The possibility of torture, as definedby the Convention against Torture, or

• The risk of cruel and unusual treat-ment or punishment, or risk to theirlives.

WHEN CAN YOU CLAIM REFUGEESTATUS?If you fit Canada’s definition of arefugee, you can claim refugee statuseither by notifying an immigration offi-cer when you arrive at a port of entryinto Canada or after you are already inCanada. You do not have to havelegal status in Canada to apply to be aConvention Refugee.

Who makes decisions aboutrefugee claims in Canada?

The Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB)is the body that decides who qualifies asa refugee in Canada. The IRB is anindependent administrative tribunal thatis accountable to the Parliament ofCanada through the Minister ofCitizenship and Immigration. Its dutyis to make well-reasoned decisions onimmigration and refugee matters,efficiently, fairly and in accordance withthe law. It has three divisions: the RefugeeProtection Division, the ImmigrationDivision, and the Immigration AppealDivision. The Refugee Protection Divisionrules on claims for protection made fromwithin Canada. Citizenship andImmigration Canada (CIC) decides onprotection claims in Canadian embassiesand consulates.

Checklist: Refugee ClaimEssentials

There are many steps to making arefugee claim. They are:

1. Get an address (a place to stay) inCanada. For more information on this,please see page 20.

2. Complete and submit a PersonalInformation Form within 28 days of

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✔

Claiming Refugee Status



making your claim for refugee status.For more information on this, pleasesee page 10.

3. Contact an organisation that helpsrefugee claimants to get informationabout the refugee claim process andany help you may need. For more infor-mation on this, please see page 12.

4. Have an immigration medical healthexamination as soon as possible. Formore information on this, please seepage 16.

5. Apply for social assistance (welfare), ifyou need it. Note: you must have a per-manent address before you can applyfor social assistance. For more informa-tion on this, please see page 42.

6. Prepare your story of persecution.In other words, prepare to explain whyyou feel you will be persecuted if youare returned to your home country andwhy you are claiming refugee status.The best way to do this is to writedown the sequence of events that ledyou to flee your country. This will helpyou get your thoughts organizedbefore you meet with a lawyer.

7. Find a lawyer. For more informationon this, please see page 34.

8. Apply for Legal Aid, if you needhelp paying for a lawyer. For moreinformation on this, please see page35.

9. Apply for Social Insurance Number(SIN). For more information on this,please see page 40.

10. Find schools for any children whomay have accompanied you to Canada.Apply for English as a SecondLanguage training, if you need it.

For more information on this, pleasesee page 45.

11. Apply for a work permit. For moreinformation on this, please see page39.

Important contacts for processingyour refugee claim

Citizenship and Immigration Canada416-973-44445343 Dundas St. W.How to get there: Take the subway toKipling station. The office is locatedbehind the subway parking lot.

or55 St. Clair Ave. E.How to get there: Take the subwayto St. Clair station. Exit on St ClairAvenue and walk 2 blocks east.

Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB)416-954-100074 Victoria St., Suite 400How to get there: Take the subway toQueen station. Walk east on QueenStreet for one block to Victoria Street.Walk south on Victoria Street.

Internet resources for refugeeclaimants

ImmigrationImmigration and Refugee Board ofCanada (IRB): www.irb.gc.caThe Immigration and Refugee Board is anindependent tribunal that makes decisionsabout refugee claims and immigration matters.

SettlementSettlement.Org: www.settlement.orgSettlement.org is funded by Citizenshipand Immigration Canada. It is designed tohelp settlement workers and newcomersto Canada.


INITIATING A REFUGEE CLAIM

You can make a claim for refugee sta-tus from outside of Canada or afteryou are in Canada.

Initiating a refugee claim from out-side of Canada

You can make a refugee claim at anyport of entry to Canada: at any bordercrossing, sea port or international air-port. All you have to do is tell animmigration officer that you want tomake a refugee claim. It is extremelyimportant that you do this as soon aspossible you after you have arrived ata port of entry into Canada. Canadianimmigration officers are not allowed tosend back or deny entry to anyonewho makes a refugee claim.

If you are coming to Canada by landfrom the United States, you can contactthe following United States non-governmental organisations for moreinformation on how to make a refugeeclaim:

VIVE in Buffalo, New York: (716) 892-4354

Freedom House in Detroit, Michigan:(313) 964-4320.

Making a refugee claim from within Canada

This is called making an "in-land" claim.The process for making an in-land claimhas been undergoing some majorchanges recently, but the followingshould serve as a guide for you.

If you are staying at a private residence

If you are have your own privateaccommodation or are staying at afriend’s place or with relatives, followthese steps:

Step 1. Go to your local CanadianImmigration Centre and tell an immi-gration officer that you want to make arefugee claim. The immigration officerwill ask you for some personal details,like your name and address. You willbe given a security check form (alsocalled Schedule 1). You will have to fillin this form and bring it with you whenyou return for your Eligibility Interview.The immigration officer will set a datefor interview. This usually happenstwo weeks later.

Step 2. Go to your Eligibility Interviewat the scheduled time. All in-landclaims interviews are held at theInland Refugee Processing Centre.This is located at the CanadaImmigration Centre at 5343 DundasSt. W. in Etobicoke. Usually theappointment is for 7 a.m., but youshould expect to be there until theCentre closes at 5 p.m.

You must take with you the following:

•All of your identity documents,including:

• Your passport;• Your travel documents;• Your identity card; and• Your birth certificate from your home country.You must bring the original documents.Photocopies will not be accepted!

• 7 passport size photographs ofyourself.

• Your completed security check form(Schedule 1).

• The original application letter youwere given when you declared yourintention to apply for refugee status.

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If you are staying at a shelter

If you are staying at a shelter, you donot need to go a Canadian ImmigrationCentre to set up a personal appointment.Just tell your shelter worker that youwant to claim refugee status. The shelterworkers will make an appointment foryou with the immigration authorities.Then you follow Step 2 above.

Next steps: after your eligibilityinterview

After your Eligibility Interview, you willbe told whether you are eligible tomake a refugee claim.

If you are eligible

If you are told that you are eligible to makea refugee claim, this means that yourcase can now go to the Immigrationand Refugee Board. This is the bodythat will decide whether you will beallowed to stay in Canada.

You will be given a "Refugee Packet."This contains:

•An IMM 1442 "Acknowledgement ofConvention Refugee Claim" form.

•A Personal Information Form (PIF).You use this form to provide personaldetails about yourself and a detailedaccount of why you are afraid to returnto your home country. Your PIF is avery important part of your refugeeclaim. It is highly recommended thatyou have a good lawyer to help you fillout your PIF. You may be able to gethelp from a legal clinic if you are not eli-gible for Legal Aid and cannot afford alawyer. For more information on this,please see page 37 or call First Contactat 416-771-9540.

•Medical forms. These are special

forms that a doctor designated byCanada immigration must complete. A list of doctors is included in therefugee packet.

•A notice to appear before theImmigration and Refugee Board (IRB).

•A conditional removal order. Thisform is used to remove you fromCanada if you lose or withdraw yourclaim for refugee status or if your caseis declared abandoned.

After you have completed these docu-ments and they have been processed byyour Canadian Immigration Centre, youwill be eligible to apply for social bene-fits; such as social assistance, health,education for minors, English classes foradults and legal aid assistance.

If you are not eligible

You will be told that you are not eligibleto make a refugee claim if you have:

a) been granted a "ConventionRefugee Status" in another country towhich you may return.

b) already been found to be ineligibleto make a claim.

c) already been rejected by theImmigration and Refugee Board, whichdecides whether to grant refugee status.

d) a previous claim that has beendeclared withdrawn or abandoned bythe Refugee Protection Division (RPD).

e) been named in an un-enforcedremoval order.

f) a serious criminal record or are considered a security risk based onsuspected past involvement in terrorism,human rights violations, war crimesand/or crimes against humanity.



•Anything you tell Canadian immigra-tion officials may be used at any stageof your refugee claim process.

•Always tell the truth. If you have mis-represented yourself at any point forany reason, you should explain your-self. It is best to do this as soon aspossible. This is the best way to avoidany enforcement measures, such asdetention.

•In Canada, each refugee claim istreated individually. You and yourfamily members will be consideredseparately.

•There is no age limit for making arefugee claim in Canada. A child whois not accompanied by an adult maymake a refugee claim.

•The process for making a refugeeclaim may be different from one bor-der check (or port of entry) to another.

•When you make a refugee claim, youhave the right to use an interpreter. Ifyou need an interpreter to help you fillout forms, you must arrange this onyour own. If you need an interpreterat your refugee claim hearing, all youhave to do is ask. The Immigrationand Refugee Board will arrange to getone for you.

•Save every piece of communicationyou have with the Immigration andRefugee Board about your claim. Thiscould include photocopies of every-thing you or someone else has doneon your behalf that was sent toCanadian authorities. Also, keepeverything you receive from the

authorities, from your counsel or fromany other institution or person regard-ing your refugee claim. Save all of theenvelopes, too. This will prove whenand how you received a piece of infor-mation.

•If you have been judged eligible tomake a refugee claim, it is a good ideato get legal counsel. A lawyer canhelp you fill out and review all of theforms you have to complete. And,while legal workers and consultantscan represent you at the Immigrationand Refugee Board (IRB), only lawyerscan bring cases before the FederalCourt and the Supreme Court ofCanada if your claim is rejected by theIRB.

•Dates (such as birth dates, travellingdates, significant events, etc.) are veryimportant. If you can’t remember orare unsure of a specific date, give anapproximate time.

•If at any time during the refugeeclaim process you do not know ananswer to a question, say you don’tknow and explain why.

•If you change your address at anytime, you must report your newaddress to the Immigration andRefugee Board, Citizenship andImmigration Canada, Legal Aid (if youare receiving legal aid) and your immi-gration lawyer. It is important that youdo not miss any communication fromany of these parties.

14

Things you should know when making your refugee claim


YOUR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS AREFUGEE CLAIMANTYour rights as a refugee claimant

As a refugee claimant, you have certainrights. These include the right to legalcounsel to help you with your refugeeclaim, the right to financial assistance ifyou need it, the right to health care, theright to work in some cases, and theright to education and/or languagetraining in some cases.

Legal aid

Throughout the refugee claim process,you have the right to either speak foryourself or be represented by legalcounsel. If you do not want to be rep-resented by a lawyer, you can choosea friend, relative or other individual toact as your counsel. If you can provethat you cannot afford a lawyer, animmigration lawyer will be provided toyou at no charge through Legal Aid.

For more information on getting goodlegal advice, please see page 34. Formore information on legal aid, pleasesee page 34.

Employment

As a refugee claimant, you may be eli-gible to apply for permission to work.This is called "employment authoriza-tion." Generally, you are eligible towork only if you would otherwise haveto rely on public assistance to survive.Before you can apply for permissionto work, you must:

• fill out and return your PersonalInformation Form to the Immigrationand Refugee Board;

• have an immigration medical healthexamination; and

• apply for a Social Insurance Number.

For information on applying for aSocial Insurance Number, please seepage 40.

Education

As a refugee claimant, you can applyfor "student authorization: to learnEnglish as a Second Language or toattend academic or vocational train-ing. If you have children, they havethe right to a free education whilewaiting for a decision on their claims.You have the same right if you are ayoung person under the age of 18.

For more information on educationand English as a Second Languageprograms, please see page 45.

Financial assistance

If you are not able to survive withouthelp from public funds, you can askfor help. This help may include moneyfor basic shelter, food and incidentalexpenses. You may also be able to gethelp if you are moving from a tempo-rary or emergency shelter to your ownnew residence.

For more information on getting finan-cial assistance, please see page 42.

Health care

The Interim Federal Health Program,administered by Citizenship andImmigration Canada, provides emer-gency and essential health services forrefugee claimants who cannot affordto pay for these services. When yourclaim for refugee status has beenaccepted and you are grantedConvention Refugee Status, you will



be able to apply to be covered byOHIP (the Ontario Health InsuranceProgram). An OHIP card lets you getmany health services free of charge.

For more information on health care,please see page 37.

Your responsibilities as a refugeeclaimant

As a refugee claimant, you have someresponsibilities. You must:

1. Submit the documents that areneeded to make your refugee claim.You must submit a PersonalInformation Form to the Immigrationand Refugee Board within 28 daysfrom the time you received yourRefugee Packet. If, for any reason,you more time to submit yourPersonal Information Form, request anextension before the 28 days expire.

2. Undergo an Immigration MedicalHealth Examination. When you firstclaim refugee status, you will be given alist of medical doctors. You must visitone of these doctors and undergo acomplete a medical examination within60 days of claiming refugee status. Thisis a condition of your being allowed tostay in Canada. If you do not completea medical exam, this could constitute aviolation of your terms of stay and youcould be removed from Canada. Formore information on your immigrationmedical health exam, please refer to“Your Immigration Medical HealthExamination” on this page.

3. Let immigration authorities know ifyou change your address.As a refugee claimant, you arerequired by law to notify the immigra-tion authorities and the Immigration

and Refugee Board if you move to anew address. If you are receiving anyservices such as an allowance forshelter/housing, food, clothing or otherexpenses, you must also notify SocialServices. Letting the authorities knowyour new address will also help tomake sure that you receive all the mailthat may be important to your claim.

4. Let your social worker know of anychanges to your financial situation.If you are receiving any social assis-tance, you must inform your socialworker of all changes in your financialcircumstances. This includes anychange to the amount of rent youmust pay, any change to the amountof money you are earning if you havea job, or any change to the number ofpeople living in your household.

YOUR IMMIGRATION MEDICALHEALTH EXAMINATION

If you are making a refugee claim inCanada, you must undergo an immi-gration medical health examination.The examination must be conductedby one of the doctors on the list thatCitizenship and Immigration Canada(CIC) gave you when you made yourrefugee claim.

You have 60 days from the time youmake your refugee claim to have yourmedical examination. But it is betterto have it sooner than that because somany other things depend on theexamination. For example, you willnot be able to get permission to workin Canada until you have had yourmedical examination. For this reason,you should make an appointment to

16


see one of the doctors approved byCIC within the first 2 weeks of makingyour claim.

You do not have to pay to see a doc-tor. As a refugee claimant, you canget free health care that is paid for bythe Interim Federal Health Program.

Finding a doctorLook at the list of doctors youreceived from immigration officialswhen you made you refugee claim.Start by calling the doctor nearest towhere you are staying. You may haveto call more than one doctor. Not allof the doctors on the list will beaccepting patients all the time. If youneed a list of doctors that is more upto date, call First Contact at 416-771-9540.

Your appointment

When you go to the doctor to haveyour medical examination, take thefollowing documents with you:

1. Your IMM 1442 "Acknowledgementof Convention Refugee Claim" form.

2. Three passport-size photographs ofyourself, and three of each member ofyour family who is taking a medicalexamination.

It is important to understand that:

• Your doctor is responsible only forconducting a medical examinationaccording to Canada's immigrationrules. Your doctor cannot give youany advice about the immigrationprocess.

• All medical reports and X-rays foryour immigration medical healthexamination are the property of the

Canadian Immigration MedicalAuthorities. They cannot be returned toyou. Your doctor will not tell you theresults of the medical examination.However, he/she will tell you if you havea health-related problem. Your doctordoes not make the final decision aboutwhether you have passed the medicalexamination for immigration purposes.This decision is made by the immigra-tion office. The immigration office willinform you in writing if there is anyproblem with your medical examination

YOUR REFUGEE PROTECTIONHEARING

The refugee protection hearing is aninquiry. Its purpose is to allow anImmigration and Refugee Board mem-ber (who acts as a quasi-judge) togather the information that is neededto make a decision on your claim forrefugee protection.

Most hearings are scheduled for half aday, but your hearing could be shorter(around 2 hours) or longer (a full dayor more).

Your refugee claim hearing is veryimportant. You have a right to have alawyer or other representative with youat the hearing. This is an importantright. If you do not have the money tohire a lawyer, you may be able toapply for legal aid. Please see page35 for more information about legalaid. Before you go to the hearing,your immigration lawyer will explain toyou what happens at the hearing andwill help you to prepare.

You also have a right to have an inter-preter at the hearing at no charge. Ifyou have any questions about whether



the interpreter is properly interpretingwhat you say or what anyone else issaying, tell your lawyer.

There are usually one or two membersof the Immigration and Refugee Board,and a Refugee Claims Officer, at arefugee claim hearing. The Boardmembers will ask you questions aboutyour application and why you areunable to return to your home country.You may also be asked questions thatwill help to establish your identity. Thehearing is an opportunity for you to telleverything that is relevant to your claimand to produce additional supportingevidence, such as police and medicalrecords. It is also helpful if you can pro-duce documents that show the situa-tion in your country of origin. You arerequired by law to produce these docu-ments as soon as you have them, or atleast 20 days before the hearing, so asto allow the Immigration ProtectionBoard to look over them. If your docu-ments are not in English or French, tryto have them translated.

Each application for refugee status isevaluated separately. However, if youand your immediate family membersare all making refugee claims, all ofyour claims will be heard together inone hearing.

After the hearing, usually on the sameday, a decision will be made about yourcase. All decisions about your refugeeclaim will be given to you in writing,even if the decision is also given to youorally at the end of the hearing. It cantake a little as a few days or as long asseveral months to get the written deci-sion. You will also receive the reasonsfor the decision, especially if the deci-sion is negative.

IF YOUR CLAIM IS ACCEPTED

If your refugee claim is accepted, thismeans that you have been found to bea Convention Refugee. You will beallowed to stay in Canada.

As a Convention Refugee/ProtectedPerson, you have 180 days from thetime you are granted status to submitan application for permanent resi-dence. It takes approximately 18months to process this applicationand costs $550 for each adult and$150 for each dependent under theage of 22.

IF YOUR CLAIM IS REJECTED

If your claim is rejected by theImmigration and Refugee Board, youhave no right to appeal under the cur-rent law. You will receive a noticetelling you that you must leaveCanada. You will be told that you have30 days to leave Canada voluntarily. Ifyou leave voluntarily within 30 days,there will be no legal obstacle to you ifyou want to return to Canada in thefuture. If you do not leave voluntarily,a deportation order will made againstyou. This means that you will not beable to return to Canada in the futureas a visitor or immigrant unless youget special permission from theMinister of Citizenship andImmigration.

Although you cannot appeal the deci-sion of the Immigration and RefugeeBoard, you can consider:

1. Applying for a judiciary review ofyour case to see if the Immigrationand Refugee Board member followedall the legal rules for making a decision.

18


Very few applicants have successfullyapplied for a judiciary review.

2. Applying for a Pre Removal RiskAssessment.

The Pre-Removal Risk Assessment(PRRA)

Officers of Citizenship and ImmigrationCanada do the Pre-Removal RiskAssessment. Like the Immigration andRefugee Board, their job is to decidewhether a person is a ConventionRefugee or a Person in Need ofProtection.

When you receive a notice fromCitizenship and Immigration Canadaletting you know that they are ready toremove you from Canada, you willalso receive a PRRA application. Youhave 15 days to state whether or notyou wish to apply for this assessment.If you do, you have another 15 days tomake any written submissions. Theonly information you are allowed tosubmit for the PRRA is new informa-tion – in other words, information thatbecame available only after the dateof your refugee protection hearing.Information that was already present-ed to the Immigration and RefugeeBoard will not be considered at aPRRA. If you decide to apply for aPRRA, you are strongly advised to getadvice and help from a lawyer.

If you are accepted under PRRA, youwill be granted status as a protectedperson and you will be allowed toapply for permanent residence inCanada.

Removal from Canada

If your refugee claim is rejected, or ifyou are not successful with your judi-ciary review of appeal, a deportationorder will be issued against you. Youroptions are very limited at this point.You can apply for landed status onHumanitarian and Compassionategrounds (H & C). H&C applicationsprovide a safeguard for people whoshould be allowed to remain inCanada and make it their home butwho otherwise do not qualify underimmigration rules. The Minister ofCitizenship and Immigration decideswhether or not to consider H&C appli-cations. You could also enlist theservices of non-governmental organi-zations and advocacy groups likeAmnesty International, who may beable to help show that your deporta-tion may seriously endanger your life.For a list of non-governmental organi-zations that may be able to help you,please see page 46.

If all of these avenues are unsuccess-ful, you will normally be sent to thecountry from which you came from toCanada. If you do not have themoney to buy a ticket to return to yourhome country, the Government ofCanada will provide a ticket for you. Ifyou plan to try to return to Canada inthe future and settle here as an immi-grant or a refugee, you will have torepay the cost of your ticket.



YOUR FIRST FEW DAYS INTORONTO

TEMPORARY SHELTER

In Toronto, you can find free accom-modation at shelters. Most shelterstake in all types of homeless people,including refugee claimants. Someshelters are for refugees only.

If you have some money and do notwant to stay in a shelter, you can stayat an inexpensive hostel.

You can contact most shelters directly.

The next few pages list Toronto shel-ters along with their phone numbersand other information. If you wanthelp finding a shelter, you can call oneof the following 24-hour telephoneinformation lines:

Green Field Central Family Intake416-397-5637Green Field Central Family Intake helpsfamilies to find a shelter or hostel.

Street Helpline416-392-3777Street Helpline helps single individualsto find emergency shelter.

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Living as a Refugee Claimant in Toronto

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REFUGEE SHELTERS

Romero House175 Keele St. 416-763-1303

416-864-0515

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44Sojourn House51 Bond St.

✔

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

✔

- You must apply inperson- Refugee claimantsmay stay up to oneyear or until they findalternative accommo-dation, whichevertime period is shorter.

- Has staff experi-enced in working withrefugee claimants- Single persons canapply in person- Families must callGreen Field CentralFamily Intake to apply

416-203-7848 12Matthew House981 Dundas St.West

✔ ✔-Accepts both menand women- Please call forspace availability

416-469-9754 20FCJ HamiltonHouse(Address Withheld)

✔ ✔- Accepts womanand children only.You can walk in orphone in advance.

Cont....

Shelters and Hostels


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contact through GreenfieldCentral FamilyIntake

contact through GreenfieldCentral FamilyIntake

120COSTI Reception(Address Withheld)

✔ ✔ ✔- Accepts familiesand singles- Families must callGreen Field CentralFamily Intake toapply

416-690-6155 n/aBrottier House(Address Withheld) ✔

- Accepts womenonly. Phone inadvance to see if thereare any vacancies.

416-368-2642 40Fred VictorWomen’sHostel

✔ - Phone to apply.

416-967-6060 30Street Haven ✔ - Phone to apply.

n/a

Wood GreenRed DoorFamily Shelter ✔

For abused women,female refugeeclaimants andfemales who areevicted from theirplace of residence.- Women must applythrough Green FieldCentral Family Intake.

416-762-4678 71

SINGLE WOMEN SHELTERSSalvation ArmyEvangelineResidence ✔

- For women 16years of age andover, includingrefugees and victimsof assault or sexualassault

416-652-0334 50

SINGLE MEN SHELTERS

NA-ME-RESNative Men’sResidence14 VaughanRoad

✔

- Men can apply inperson.- Help will be provid-ed for individualmales trying toaccess permanenthousing and mayprovide transporta-tion to other shelters.

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416-979-7058 108Salvation ArmyHope167 College St.

✔- Offers counsellingand help in findingaccommodation.- Holds regular groupmeetings with shelterresidents to help withtheir needs.Must call ahead toapply for services.

416-869-3619 91Good Shepherd412 QueenStreet

✔ - Report to centre at5:30 p.m. for intake.

416-925-9250 50Turning PointYouth Services95 WellesleyStreet East

✔- You must be maleand between 16 and24 years old.- You must apply inperson.

416-392-5522 500Seaton House339 GeorgeStreet

✔ - Has experienceworking withrefugee claimants- Phone in advanceto see if there arevacancies. Go inperson if it’s anemergency.

416-368-0324 100SalvationGateway107 Jarvis Street

✔- You must apply inperson between 1p.m. and 7 p.m.- Offers drop inservices for bothmen and womaneveryday includingmeals, showers andlaundry facilities

416-593-4849 88

YOUNG ADULT SHELTERS

CovenantHouse20 Gerrard St.East

✔✔

- You must bebetween the ages of16 to 22 to apply.- Wheelchair acces-sible.

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416-922-6532 n/aStop 8686 MadisonAvenue

✔- You must befemale and between16 and 25 years old.

416-703-8540 n/aGlobal VillageBackpackers460 King St.West

✔ ✔ No children allowed.

416-748-0110 30Youth WithoutShelter ✔✔

- You must be a single youth between16 and 24 years old.

416-588-9277 n/a

World VisionReceptionCentre43 ChristieStreet

✔

- Serves mainly families.- Families must applythrough Green FieldCentral Family Intake.- Offers a range ofsettlement services,referrals and assis-tance with form com-pletion.

416-925-4431Extension 0

n/a

OTHERSHELTERS

TorontoCommunityHostel

✔ ✔ ✔

✔ ✔

- Singles must applyin person.- Families mustapply through GreenField Central FamilyIntake.

416-703-3939 n/a $18/night

$20/night

416-923-8454 n/aYWCAWoodlawnHostel80 Woodlawn Avenue East

✔ Women only$22/night

LOW COSTACCOMMODA-TION

Toronto BudgetHostel223 Church Street

✔✔ No families.

Cont....



Refugee-only Shelters

These shelters serve refugee claimants.They have professional staff who help toreceive and support refugee claimants intheir first few months in Toronto.Services at these shelters may includehealthcare, planning settlement, helpwith your Personal Information Form(PIF), and counselling. Demand forthese shelters is high, so you might notbe able to get accommodation at thistype of shelter. Even if you are not stay-ing at a refugee-only shelter, you maystill be able to make use of their servic-es. For example, a refugee sheltercould help you find permanent housing.

Women-only Shelters

These shelters are for women who needa safe place. To ensure the safety of thewomen who use them, these shelters donot publish their addresses. If you wantto stay at one of these shelters, youmust phone them to get their addressand more information.

Men-only Single Men

These shelters are for men only.

Shelters for Young Adults

These shelters will only take youth.Usually you must be around 16 to 24years old to apply.

Hostels

If you who can afford to pay between$18-$30 (Canadian dollars), you canchoose to stay at a hostel while you arelooking for permanent accommodation.The prices published in this manual aresubject to change. You should phonethe hostel to ask how much they charge.

FREE HOT MEALS AND FOOD

Hot meals

There are over 100 places in Torontowhere newly arrived refugee claimantscan get free hot meals or free food. Mostorganizations that offer free hot mealsprovide these on their premises, whichmeans that you have to go there to eat.

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416-598-9090 n/aCanadianaBackpackers42 WidmetStreet

✔ ✔ No children allowed.

416-971-4440 n/aHostelInternationalToronto76 Church Street

✔ ✔ Singles only.

$25/night

$25/night


Food banks

Food banks offer free food rations orgroceries. If you are not working, youmay be eligible for this food.

Food-Link/Hunger Hotline: 416-392-6655

(or 416-397-4634 after hours)The Food-Link Hotline is a telephoneservice that refers callers to over 1300

free food programs, including hotmeals and food banks. The Hotline isopen from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., 7/daysa week. Some food banks have ageographical jurisdiction for clients.This means that you have to live in aspecific area to benefit from the serv-ice. You can call the Food-LinkHotline to find out if you are eligible orto find a food bank in your area.

ORGANISATIONDAY OFTHE WEEK

SERVICE TIMES LOCATION

Red Cross416-929 7848

Monday Lunch: 1-4 p.m.

Wednesday Supper: 6 p.m.

Wednesday Supper: 6 p.m.

2 Homewood Ave.(Jarvis St. andHomewood Ave., Eastof Carlton)

Scott Mission416-923 8872

WednesdayFriday

Lunch: 12 noonLunch: 12 noon

Monday toSaturday

Bag lunches: 12 noon – 7 p.m.

502 Spadina Ave.(Spadina Ave. andCollege St.)

TorontoChristianResourceCentre416-363 4234

Tuesday Lunch: 12-4 p.m.Thursday Supper: 6 p.m.

40 Oak St. (ParliamentSt. and Gerrard St.)

St John theCompassionateMission416-4661357

Thursday Lunch: 12 noon-1 p.m.

155 Broadview Ave.(Broadview Ave. andQueen St. E.)

The following is a list of centres that serve free hot meals onweekdays. These times may change, so you should call firstto find out if meals will be served.

Some organisations that offer free hot meals

✔



PERMANENT ACCOMMODATION:MOVING TO YOUR OWN RESIDENCE

Finding longer-term accommodation inToronto is sometimes very difficult.How much you will have to pay forrent depends on the location and sizeof the residence. It is usually cheaperto rent an apartment with a friend orrelative so that you can share the cost.The cost of utilities – heating, electrici-ty (hydro) and water – is usuallyincluded in the rent, but you shouldalways confirm this with your landlord.

If you are single and cannot find people to share an apartment withyou, you can rent a room in a roominghouse.

Whether you rent an apartment or aroom, the landlord usually asks you topay the "first and last month’s rent"before you move in. This gives thelandlord protection in case you moveout without giving enough notice or ifyou do not satisfy some lease conditions.

Tips on how to find a residence

Look in the classified sections ofdaily or community newspapers.

Call a housing-help agency in yourarea of interest.

Look on bulletin boards in super-markets, libraries and coin laundryfacilities.

Look at notices stuck up at busstops.

Talk to your friends, your housingworker and other refugee claimantswho are in a similar situation.

Visit other shelters where there maybe people from your community whomay be looking for someone with whomthey can share accommodations.

Phone the City of Toronto HousingInformation Service at 416-392-0566or a City of Toronto Housing HelpCentre at one of the numbers below:

City of Toronto Housing Help Centres

Scarborough Housing Help Centre416-285-8070

North York Housing Help Centre416-244-0724

East York housing Help Centre416-424-2900

Etobicoke Housing Help Centre416-741-1553

Etobicoke Housing Help Centre,Satellite Office 416-653-5400

York Housing Help Centre416-653-5400

Woodgreen Housing Help Centre416-469-5211, ext. 1175

Tips on what to consider whenlooking for a residence

Try to find a residence where utili-ties (heating, lighting and water) areincluded in the rental amount.

Where possible, stay as close asubway station or TTC bus route. This makes travel easier as you workon your refugee claim and otherpaperwork.

Try to find a place that already hasa refrigerator and a stove. In Toronto,a refrigerator and a stove are usuallyincluded in the rent.

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✔✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔


If you are looking for a room in arooming house, there should be nomore than 5 people sharing a bath-room and kitchen.

Your rights and responsibilities as atenant

A tenant is a person who pays moneyto live in a residence. When you rentan apartment, you are covered by theTenant Protection Act, which givesyou some rights and some obligations.

Your rights

•You have the right to privacy. Thismeans that your landlord must giveyou 24 hours written notice before heor she enters your residence, unless itis an emergency or you have agreedto let your landlord in.

•You have the right to have all of theconditions of your lease honoured byyour landlord.

•You have the right to stay with yourfamily.

•You have the right to have your homekept in a good state of repair, up tothe property standards set by localby-laws, and fire and health codes.

•You have the right to a 6% interestpayment on your last month's rentdeposit, to be paid to you once everyyear by the landlord.

•You have the right to be free fromharassment by the landlord and/orother tenants.

Your responsibilities

•You are responsible for paying yourrent on the day of the month agreed toby you and the landlord.

•You are responsible for honouring the

terms and conditions of your lease.This includes giving your landlord anadequate notice period when you areplanning to move.

•You are responsible for not over-crowding your apartment. In the cityof Toronto, it is illegal to have morethan 5 people sharing one bathroom.

•You are responsible for maintainingyour apartment in a reasonably cleanand healthy state.

•You are responsible for repairing anydamage done by you, your family oryour guests.

Telephone service

To get telephone service, call BellCanada (416-392-2355). It costs about$50 to have a phone installed. If youhaven’t received your Social InsuranceNumber, you might be asked to make adeposit of around $200. This will berefunded to you after 6 months.

Cable TV service

To get cable TV, call Rogers Cable. Youcan find them listed in the phone book.

Change of residence

Before you move to a new residence, youmust inform the Immigration Office andthe Immigration and Refugee Board ofyour new address in writing. If you do notinform them in writing, you may be violat-ing a condition of your stay in Canada.You might also miss important mail fromthe Immigration Office.If you are receiving welfare, you must alsotell your welfare worker that you are mov-ing. If you don't, you might not get yourwelfare cheques. You might also be sus-pended from receiving social assistance.

✔



OPENING A BANK ACCOUNT

It’s a good idea to open a bankaccount as soon as you can. Anyfinancial assistance you receive fromSocial Services can then be depositeddirectly into your account.

You can open an account at any bankyou want. To open an account, youwill need two pieces of identification.You can use any two of the following:

•Your immigration identificationpapers (IMM 1442)

•Your Social Insurance Number card

•Your work permit/authorisation withyour photo on it.

When choosing a bank, you shouldconsider:

•Where the bank is located. It is moreconvenient if your bank is close towhere you are staying.

•The bank’s hours of operations. Checkto make sure that your bank is open atthe times that are best suited for you.

•How much the bank charges for itsservices. All banks charge for theirservices. Most have many differentoptions, depending on how manycheques you want to write eachmonth, how many withdrawals youusually make, and how much moneyyou will usually keep in your account.If you are not sure what the best optionis for you, ask a teller at the bank.•The type of account you want. This isup to you. For example, if you choosea chequing account, you can pay billsby cheque through your bank account.

Bank cards

When you open your account, you can

also ask for a bank card. You can useyour bank card to pay for things directlyfrom your account. You can use yourbank card at Automatic Teller Machines(ATM's). These allow you to take moneyout of your bank account. If you use anATM that does not belong to your bank,choose one that has a yellow sign withthe word "Interac" on it before you useit. If you use an ATM that does not havethis sign on it, you will be charged a fee.

Changing banks

If at any time you are not happy withsome of the services that are offeredat your bank or if you find anotherbank that better suits your needs, youcan always close your account andopen an account elsewhere.

The following is a list of the largestbanks in the Toronto area. These areonly suggestions.

On the lighter sideBeing Canadian: The $1 coin is called a"Loonie" (since it depicts a bird, the loon),and the $2 coin is called a "Toonie".

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Bank Main/Biggest Branch

Royal Bank The Plaza, 200 Bay St.(King St. and Bay St.)

CIBC Commerce Court ( King St. and Bay St.)

Bank ofMontreal

100 King Street (King St. and Bloor St.)

TD CanadaTrust Bank

1 King Street (King St.and Yonge St.)

Scotiabank 40 King Street West(King St. and Bay St.)


GETTING AROUND: PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN TORONTO

Toronto has an efficient public trans-portation system, commonly referred toas the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission).It consists of buses, streetcars, subwaysand commuter trains.

Here are a few things you shouldknow about using the public trans-portation system in Toronto.

• All buses, trains and streetcars havefixed routes. The driver will only stopat designated points.

• If you are not sure how to get whereyou are going, you can always ask abus or streetcar driver or a ticket takerat a subway station. You can also aska bus or streetcar driver to tell youwhen your stop is coming up.

• When you need to take more than onebus to get to your destination, you mustget a ‘transfer’ slip when you pay yourfare. The subway, streetcar and bus arepart of the same system so you do nothave to pay again when you changefrom one to the other as long as it is onthe same trip. In the subway, you get a‘transfer’ from a machine in the subwaystation. On buses and streetcars, youask the driver for a ‘transfer.’

• When you get on a bus or streetcar,you pay your fare by dropping a ticket,token or exact change into the fare boxat the front. The driver does not takeyour money or make change. You musthave the exact fare.

• If you are going to use public transporta-tion every day, it may be cheaper for you

to get a monthly pass. This allows you toride the public transportation system asoften as you want in that month. Studentpasses cost a little less than adult passes.

RED FLAGAvoid "Scoopers"Scoopers are people whotake advantage of your lackof knowledge on certain

issues to cheat you. Unlicensed passen-ger vehicles are a good example. Theyhave a reputation for overcharging. In asurvey of 60 refugee claimants, twowere victims of scoopers. They hadpaid more than $100 for a trip that nor-mally costs less than $30. Scooperdrivers often do not have drivers’ licencesand passenger insurance. This meansthat you take a big risk when you ride ina scooper.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR MONEY GOFURTHER

Living in Toronto, like in any major city,can be very expensive. But there aremany places where you can get freeor low-cost goods.

Where to get things for free

Here is a list of places where you canget things for free.

FREE STORE416-925-8001 or 416-968-1465For free clothing, shoes, etc.200 Wellesley St, E. in the basement.Buzzer #483

Free clothing you can go and pick up

Toronto Adventist CommunityServices 416 780-1697

How to apply: Take your identificationwith you

▼!



Toronto Council Fire Native CulturalCentre 416-360-4350

How to apply: Drop in or call in.

Salvation Army Thrift Shops416-510-8404 or 416-360-6036How to apply: You must take you yourimmigration papers with you as proof ofyour status. Clothing is supplied basedon the needs of the season (for exam-ple, you can get a winter coat in winter).Quantities may be limited per category(e.g., coats, pants, shirts) per person. .Most stores serve refugee claimantsonly on particular days, so you shouldcall before going to the store. Call thenumber above for a location near you.

Syme-Woolner Neighbourhood andFamily Centre 416-766-4634

Conditions: 1 bag of clothing per person

Welcome Baby Support Programme416-240-1700

How to apply: Call in first.Women’s Drop in 416-864-5557How to apply: Caters to homelesswomen and those in hostels/shelters.

Free beds

Sleep Country Canada – 416-242-4774

You can get a free bed from SleepCountry Canada when you give them areferral letter from your shelter or housingworker at your shelter or from some otheragency like the Red Cross First Contactprogram. Sleep Country has a limitednumber of free beds. These are givenout on a ‘first come, first served’ basis,so it is important to go early. Be sure youhave some way to transport your bed ormoney to pay for the bed to be transport-ed to your place of residence.

Where to go: Sleep Country, 140 Wendell Ave., Unit 2.

How to get there: If you are takingthe Yonge line of the subway, get offat York Mills Station and take theWeston Road bus west to WendellAvenue. If you are taking theUniversity line of the subway, get off atWilson Station and take the Wilsonbus west to Wendell Avenue.

Free furniture

Furniture Bank

Furniture Bank provides free second-hand furniture to help you get startedup in your new home. They only serveclients who have a referral letter froma shelter. Talk to your housing workerabout getting a referral letter. Whenyou get furniture from the FurnitureBank, you have to arrange to transportit to your home. If you don’t have anyway to transport it on your own, youcan pay to have it delivered.

Where to get things at a low cost

Goodwill Industries, the SalvationArmy and the St. Vincent de PaulSociety have thrift stores in manylocations in Toronto. These sell sec-ond-hand clothes, linen, furniture, andtoys. Call to find the outlet nearest towhere you are staying. Many church-es and community organisations canalso be a good source of supplies.

Goodwill Industries Shops

Main Store: 234 Adelaide St. E. 416-366-2083

299 Coxwell Ave. 416-465-8569

306 Gerrard St. E. 416-921-3396

2642 Eglinton Ave. E 416-265-4106

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3302 Dufferin St. 416-782-3913

5010 Steeles Ave. W. 416-745-6329

585 St Clair Ave. W. 416-656-5550

4075 Dundas St. W. 416-207-9691

2985 Lakeshore Blvd. W. 416-255-3211

Salvation Army Thrift Shops416-510-8404 or 416-360-6036

You can buy many second-hand, low-cost items at Salvation Army ThriftShops. There are many locations inToronto. Call one of the phone num-bers listed above and ask for the loca-tion of the Salvation Army Thrift Shopclosest to where you are staying.

St. Vincent de Paul Society ThriftShops 416-364-5577

You can buy second-hand clothingand many other items at St. Vincentde Paul Society shops. Call to findthe location closest to where you arestaying.

Free/low cost communicationVoice messaging system

If you do not have a private tele-phone, you can use Metro Voice Mailto get messages from your friends orfamily. Here’s how it works: you aregiven your own private telephonenumber so that you canpick up your messagesfrom any touch-tonephone. At the time thismanual was printed, thisservice only cost $10 for3 months!

Where to get Metro Voice Mail

Queen West Community HealthCentre 416-703-8480

Central Neighbourhood House416-925-4363

Agincourt Community ServicesAssociation 416-321-6912

Albion Neighbourhood Services416-741-1553

The Stop 416-652-7867

Community Information Centre forthe City of York 416-652-2273

Free Internet access and e-mail

The Toronto Public Library offers free e-mail and Internet access at most of itsbranches. Service is offered on a ‘firstcome, first served’ basis and you usu-ally have to book your time in advance.Some branches let you book your timeover the phone. Other branches takebookings only in person.

The Community Access Program (CAP)

CAP is a federal government initiativeadministered by Industry Canada. It provides access to the Internet in cen-tres in the community. The following aresome CAP locations in Toronto.

LOCATION HOURS SERVICES

CentralNeighbourhoodHouse349 Ontario St. (at Parliament St.and Gerrard St.)416-393-7663

Monday –Friday: 4 p.m.to 8 p.m.

12 computerswith Internet ande-mail access.

CAP Locations

Cont....



COPING WITH STRESS

What is stress?

Stress is defined as any change thatyou must adapt to. As a refugeeclaimant, you will have experiencedchanges in almost every aspect of yourlife. You are probably worried aboutthe outcome of your claim, making newfriends, finding a job, and so on.

Not all stress is bad. Things that causestress can be both positive and nega-tive, from the joy of passing yourrefugee claim hearing to the fear ofbeing in physical danger. Respondingto stressful events in a healthy way will

determine the impact thatthese experiences haveon your life.

Unhealthy ways of coping with stress

• Using alcohol or drugs.If you need help becauseyou use drugs or drinkexcessively, contact anorganization like the Centrefor Addiction and MentalHealth (see page 39 fortheir phone number).

• Avoiding unpleasantactivities. For example,postponing your medicalexam doesn’t solve a prob-lem; it creates a new prob-lem for you to worry about.

• Procrastination. Do notput off for tomorrow whatcan be done today. Lettingpriority tasks pile up is arecipe for stress.

• Overeating. A healthyand balanced diet is key to a relaxedmind.

Healthy ways of coping with stress

• Exercise regularly. See below forinformation on how to find a commu-nity resource centre near you.

• Plan your time. Use an agenda orcalendar to keep track of everything youhave to do. Learn to manage and prioritiseevents. Don’t let events manage your life.

• Make time for yourself. It is so easy toget carried away with responsibilitiesand activities that you may forget to lookafter yourself. Make time to take stockof yourself, revisit your ambitions and

32

LOCATION HOURS SERVICES

Fred VictorEmploymentCentre100 Lombard St. (at Jarvis St. andQueen St. E.)416-364-8986

Tuesday –Thursday: 12 noon to 8 p.m.Friday: 9.30 a.m.to 4 p.m.Saturday: 9 a.m.to 4 p.m.

24 computersavailable for 2-hour sessions;Internet accessand typing tutorials.

Times ChangeWomen’sEmploymentCentre365 Bloor St.#1704(at Sherbourne St.)416-927-1900

Monday –Thursday: 9 a.m.to 2.30 p.m.

8 computers available for 30-60minute sessions.You must registerwith the centre andcall ahead to bookcomputer time.

Regent ParkLearning Centre417 Gerrard St.(at Dundas andGerrard)416-363 8025

Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday:3 30pm a.m. to 6 p.m.

20 computerswith Internet ande-mail access.

CAP Locations Cont....


goals, and spend some time by yourself.

• Recognize what you can change andwhat you can’t change. For example,no matter what you do, you can’tchange the date of your hearing. Butyou can change your attitude toward itby trying not to worry too much.

• Relax. Spend time with friends,attend free shows in your area or justtake a walk.

• Explore other ways to managestress. Contact the Canadian Centrefor Victims of Torture. You can find out how to contact this organizationon page 48. Or speak to a counsellorat a walk in clinic to find out aboutother relaxation techniques.

Where to get help with stress management

Community Recreation Centres

Getting out, meeting new people andexercising regularly will all help to reduceyour stress. A good place to start isyour local Community Recreation Centre.

The city of Toronto (Parks andRecreation division) offers physical,social, cultural and recreation activitiesfor all ages, including seniors andpeople with disabilities.

Special services: Most CommunityRecreation Centres have programs foradults and children, swimming poolsadapted for persons with disabilities, andaerobic classes and weights for thosewho prefer physical exercise. For infor-mation about the programs and locationsnearest to you, call: (416) 392-8207

Who can attend? Anyone can sign upfor programs at a CommunityRecreation Centre.

Cost: There is a small fee for mostprograms. If you can’t afford the fee,you can apply for help through theCity of Toronto Welcome Policy. Askfor an application form at the recep-tion desk of your local CommunityRecreation Centre. To apply for theWelcome Policy, you will need identifi-cation, including confirmation of youraddress and confirmation of your needfor financial assistance (for example,your benefits receipt, pay stubs, or aletter from social service agency orchurch).

Your social worker

Your social worker has a universitydegree in social work. Some socialworkers have taken additional trainingin psychotherapy. If you have seriousproblems with stress, ask your socialworkers to help you find the resourcesand organizations you need to cope.

Support groups

Everyone needs a support network torely on in times of need. You shouldconsider joining a social, community,cultural or religious group thatincludes people who have sharedexperiences similar to your own orwho can understand your situation.Most refugee claimants interviewed ina Red Cross survey said that theyfound support and strength from acommunity group. Groups thatinclude people from your homelandare also useful sources of informationabout the socio-political situation inyour country.



As a refugee claimant, you are eligibleto apply for a program called "OntarioWorks." This is commonly referred toas Social Services or simply Welfare. Itwill give you financial help for shelter,food and incidental expenses. You canalso apply for an allowance for clothingto wear when you start a new job andfor education services, such as fees foreducational equivalency exams. Alldecisions are made on a case-by-casebasis. Talk to you social worker.

LEGAL AIDYou have the right to legal counsel tohelp you with your refugee claim. If youdo not have the money to hire a lawyer,you can apply for Legal Aid. You will beasked for proof of low income. As well,Legal Aid officials must hear yourrefugee claim in order to decide if youare qualified to receive funding for legalservices. They will not assess your cred-ibility for Convention Refugee status.

Finding a good lawyer

There are no set rules for finding agood lawyer. But to ensure you getthe best advice possible about yourrefugee claim, you should:

• Look for a lawyer who is familiarwith the situation in your country. Youcan ask people at community agen-cies or shelters for suggestions.

• Try to find a lawyer who speaks thelanguage you are most proficient in.This will make it easier for you to com-municate with your lawyer withouthaving to use a translator.

• Contact referral agencies, such asthose listed in "Referrals to privatelawyers." These will give you a list ofreputable and approved lawyers to

choose from. You can also ask commu-nity organisations and/or friends whomay be able to recommend a trustworthylawyer. It is difficult to change lawyers ifyou are on Legal Aid, so be certain youare comfortable with a lawyer beforemaking a decision on representation.

Legal Aid

After you have found a lawyer willingto take your case, your next step is toapply for Legal Aid Ontario (usuallyreferred to simply as Legal Aid). Thepurpose of legal aid is to ensure thatpeople who do not have money to paya lawyer can still get the legal assis-tance they need. You can find moreinformation on Legal Aid Ontario atwww.legalaid.on.ca.

Qualifying for Legal Aid

Before you can get legal aid, you haveto undergo "merit screening." Onlypeople who cannot afford to pay for alawyer can qualify for legal aid. Meritscreening determines if your income islow enough for you to qualify. It hasnothing to do with determining thecredibility of your refugee claim.Immigration cases are not funded bylegal aid if claimants have family mem-bers in Canada who would reasonablybe expected to help to pay for a lawyer.

34

Getting the support you need as arefugee claimant in Toronto

Referrals to private lawyers

Lawyer Referral Service of the LawSociety of Upper Canada

416-947-3330

African Canadian Legal Clinic416 214-4747

Refugee Law Office 416 977-8111


If you are found to beeligible for legal aid,you will receive a legalaid certificate. Thiswill allow you toreceive legal servicesfrom the lawyer of yourchoice, paid for byLegal Aid.

Applying for Legal Aid: what totake with you.Take all of your immi-gration documentswith you when you goto apply for legal aid.Be ready to answergeneral questionsrelating to your claim.

Where to apply forLegal Aid

You must go to a LegalAid office in person toapply for legal aid.Legal Aid Ontario hasseveral area offices inToronto that receiveand process clientapplications and issuelegal aid certificates tofinancially eligiblerefugee claimants. Thefollowing is a list ofsome offices whereyou can apply forLegal Aid.

Location Telephone Hours

Etobicoke Legal Aid Office5414 Dundas St. W. (at Kipling Ave. andDundas St. W.)

416-237-1216 Monday – Thursday: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.Friday: 8:30 a.m. -12 noon

North York LegalAid Office45 Sheppard Ave. E.,Suite 106 (at Yonge St.and Sheppard Ave.)

416-730-1588 Monday – Friday:8:30 a.m. - 3:13 p.m.

North York LegalAid Office (Finch)Provincial Court, 1000 Finch Ave. W.(at Dufferin St. andFinch Ave. W.)

416-663-5561 Monday – Friday:8:30 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.

Scarborough LegalAid Office1921 Eglinton Ave. E.,Unit 1A (at Warden Ave. andEglinton Ave. E.)

416-750-7172 Monday, Tuesday,Thursday & Friday:8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.Wednesday: 8:30 a.m.– 11 p.m.

Toronto Legal AidOffice (Old City Hall)Old City Hall, 60 Queen St. W.,Room 252 (at Bay St.and Queen St. W.)

416-598-0200 Monday –Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Toronto Legal AidOffice (College Park)College ParkProvincial Court, 444 Yonge St. (atYonge St. andCollege St.)

416-598-1260 Monday – Friday:8:30 a.m. - 12 noon

Toronto Legal AidOffice (Jarvis)Provincial Court,311 Jarvis St. (at JarvisSt. and Gerrard St. E.)

416-598-0200,ext 4360

Monday – Friday:8:30 a.m. - 12 noon

Legal Aid Area Offices



Community Legal Clinics

You can also get help through aCommunity Legal Clinic. These clinicsprovide services that include:

• Summary advice (basic, easy-to-understand advice) and information(generally by telephone or in thecourse of a brief interview)

• Help for people who are handlingtheir own cases. This help includessubstantive legal advice (more in-depth, detailed advice), informationabout legal procedures, and help infilling out forms and other paperworkimportant to your claim.

• Full representation by a clinic advo-cate who may be a lawyer, communitylegal worker or student.

• Referral to a private practitioner (ona legal aid certificate or on a pro bonobasis), duty counsel or communityagency.

Community Legal Clinics in theToronto area

Kensington Bellwood LegalServices 416-924-4244

Community and Legal Aid ServicesProgramme ”CLASP” 416-736-5029

Parkdale Community Legal Services 416-531-2411

West Toronto Community LegalServices 416-531-7376

Jane/Finch Community LegalServices 416-398-0677

South Etobicoke Community LegalServices 416-252-7218

York Community Services416-653-5400

Rexdale Community Legal Clinic416-745-0062

East Toronto Community LegalServices 416-461-8102

Mississauga Community LegalServices 416-896-2050

Not all legal clinics provide all of the servic-es needed by refugee claimants (for exam-ple, helping with documentation, finding alawyer and accompanying a claimant for ahearing). You should phone a clinic beforeyou visit it to ask what services it offers.While the first five clinics on the list usuallyprovide a full range of services, they arefully booked most of the time.

Community Legal Education Ontario(CLEO) www.cleo.on.ca

119 Spadina Avenue, Suite 600416-408-4420

This organization produces materialwritten in plain (non-legal) languagespecifically for people with lowincomes. You can get information on:

• Social assistance,• Landlord and tenant law,• Refugee and immigration law,• Workers' compensation,• Women's issues,• Family law,• Employment insurance, and,• Human rights.

CLEO does not give legal advice.

Questions & answers

Q: What if l cannot get Legal Aid orget help from a legal clinics and lhave no money to pay for a lawyer?

A: There are a number of agencies thatcan help you prepare your documents

36

Cont....


Questions & Answers Cont....

and get someone to go with you to your hearings. You can visit the Red Cross First Contact drop in centrefor more information. First Contact islocated at the Red Cross office at 2 Homewood Avenue in Toronto (atthe corner of Carlton St. and JarvisSt.). First Contact’s phone number is

416-771-9540.

Q: What do I do if I have a problemwith my counsel/lawyer?

A: Law societies regulate lawyers.They can investigate complaintsagainst members, impose disciplineand provide financial compensation toclients who are victims of negligenceor misconduct. If you have a com-plaint or have reason to believe yourlawyer is not representing your inter-ests, contact:

The Law Society of Upper Canada: 416-947-3330

or Legal Aid: 416-979-1446

RED FLAGBeware of immigrationconsultants

Beware of people who callthemselves "representa-

tives" or "immigration consultants"who claim that you will get a visa,obtain citizenship or benefit from special treatment from the Canadiangovernment if you use their services.Citizenship and Immigration Canada isnot associated with any representatives.

Citizenship and Immigration Canadatreats everyone equally. It does notgive preferential service to people withrepresentatives.

The federal government of Canadaand the provincial governments do notregulate immigration consultants.Only lawyers who are licensed topractise in Canada can represent youat the Federal Court. If for some rea-son you feel that you need the servic-es of an immigration consultant, youshould call the Better Business Bureau(BBB) to find out if the consultant hasa satisfactory rating. An unsatisfactoryrating means that people have com-plained about them and they havefailed to respond those complaints.

HEALTH CAREUntil you have been grantedConvention Refugee status, you mustpay for any health services you receive.If you cannot afford to pay, the InterimFederal Health Program, administeredby Citizenship and ImmigrationCanada, will cover any emergency andessential health services that you mayneed. This includes:

• treatment and prevention of seriousmedical/dental conditions (includingimmunizations and other vital preven-tative medical care);

• essential prescription medications,and,

• contraception, prenatal and obstetri-cal care.

After you have been grantedConvention Refugee Status, you canapply to be covered by OHIP (theOntario Health Insurance Program).

▼!



An OHIP card lets you get manyhealth services free of charge.

Your health care rights

In Canada you have the right to:

• Choose your own doctor.

• Understand your medical treatment.If you don’t understand what you doctoris telling you, ask.

• Confidentiality. Healthcare workershave to get your permission before theydiscuss your health with other people.

• Ask for a second opinion. Thismeans that you have the right to ask asecond doctor about your condition orabout which treatment is best for you.

• Refuse treatment. You cannot beforced to take any treatment or med-ication that you do not want to take.

38

Organization Telephone EligibilityServices

College ofPhysicians andSurgeons ofOntario (CPSO)

416- 967-2603 ortoll free: 1 (800) 268-7096

A non-profit professional association thatregulates the practice of medicine inOntario and protects the public's interest.

The CPSO Web site allows you tosearch online for a doctor in your area. Italso explains how patients can make acomplaint about a doctor.

Canadian Centrefor Victims ofTorture194 Jarvis Street,2nd Floor

416-363-1066 Provides help with settlement, mentalhealth issues, counselling, and individualand group therapy to survivors of tortureor traumatic war experiences.

Anyone who hasexperienced tortureor traumatic war situations, regard-less of immigrationstatus.

Fife House415 Yonge St., Suite 1801 (Yonge St.and Gerrard St. E.)

416-205-9888 Transitional and permanent sharedhousing for men and women livingwith HIV/AIDS, 24-hour support andcounselling.

Helps only refugeeclaimants who arehomeless, at risk ofbeing homeless orlive in sub-standardaccommodation.

AIDS Committee of Toronto399 Church St., 4th floor (Jarvis St.and Carlton St.)

416-340-2437 Help with employment issues, coun-selling, advocacy and other directclient services.

Anyone affected by or infected withHIV/AIDS.

Women’s Health inWomen’s Hands2 Carlton St., Suite 500

416-593-7655 Health examinations and counselling in family planning and counselling,abortion counselling, female genitalmutilation, breast self-exam andHIV/AIDS prevention; healthy living programmes workshops; and individualcounselling.

All women are wel-come. Specialisesin working withimmigrant andrefugee women,women with disabilities andwomen of all ages.

Important health services for refugee claimants

Cont....


EMPLOYMENTApplying for a work permit/authorization and/or student permit

You can apply for a work permit/autho-risation and/or a student workpermit/authorization after you havehanded in your Personal InformationForm and undergone your immigrationmedical health examination. Yourlawyer will normally have the formsyou need to apply for a work permit.Your lawyer should be able to help youfill them out and submit them for you.Your application will not be processeduntil immigration authorities havereceived the results of your medicalexamination. If these results delayed

for any reason, or you delay in gettingyour medical examination, it will takelonger to process your application.

To get a student permit, you have tobe able to show an acceptance letterfrom an educational institution.

Question & Answer

Q.: How long does it take to get awork permit?

A.: You can apply for a work permitafter you have made your refugee claimand have undergone your ImmigrationMedical Health Examination. Youshould get your work permit 3 to 4weeks after you apply.

Organization Telephone EligibilityServices

Central TorontoCommunity HealthCentresCall to get the loca-tion of the communi-ty health centre clos-est to you.

416-703-8480 This is a group consisting of allCommunity Health Centres in Toronto.Community Health Centres are non-profit organizations that provide pri-mary health and health promotionprograms for individuals, families andcommunities. Most CommunityHealth Centres will make house calls,and some provide health services tothose without OHIP coverage.

Access AllianceMulti-culturalCommunity HealthCentreCall to get the loca-tion of the communityhealth centre closestto you.

416-324-8677 Specializes in serving immigrantsand refugees in Toronto. Offers edu-cational materials relating to health;helping refugee claimants get accessto social, health, legal and culturalservices.

Anyone not cov-ered by OHIP.

Centre forAddiction andMental Health

416-595-6111 A public hospital that provides directpatient care for people with mentalhealth and addiction problems, doesresearch and provides health promotion,education and prevention services.

Anyone not cov-ered by OHIP.Take with you yourimmigration papersas proof of eligibilityto access publichealth.

Important health services for refugee claimants Cont....



Applying for a Social Insurance Number

Before you can work in Canada, youmust have a Social Insurance Number(SIN). This is a unique number that isassigned only to you. It comes on aplastic card.

You also need a SIN to obtain othercards, documents and governmentservices. Social Services may alsorequire you to produce a SIN in orderto continue receiving financial benefits.

You can apply for your SIN card at anyHuman Resources Development Canada(HRDC) office. When you go to apply,be sure to take with you your immigra-tion papers and any other identificationyou have. You must provide a valid resi-dential address so that your card can besent through the mail. You cannot use ashelter address or a post office box.

When you go to your nearest HRDCoffice to apply for a SIN, you will haveto fill out a form. You may also haveto undergo a short interview to deter-mine if you know what a SIN card is.

Your SIN card will be sent by mail.Sign the back of the card immediatelyand keep the card with you. If youlose or destroy the card, you will haveto pay a fee to get a replacement cardwith the same number.

Note: It is illegal to have more thanone Social Insurance Number.

Human Resources DevelopmentCanada (HRDC): Offices in Toronto

Etobicoke Human Resources CentreCanada5343 Dundas St. W., Suite 300

416-954-1500

Toronto Centre Human ResourcesCentre Canada25 St. Clair Ave. E., 1st Floor 416-973-6915

Toronto East - The Danforth HumanResource Centre of Canada811 Danforth Ave. 416-461-3511

Toronto Lakeside Human ResourcesCentre Canada (Dufferin Mall)900 Dufferin St., Suite 0001 416-583-4700

Toronto Lawrence Square HumanResources Centre CanadaLawrence Square Mall, 700 Lawrence Ave. 416-780-4100

Toronto North Human ResourcesCentre Canada3737 Chesswood Dr. 416-954-8700

Question &Answer

Q.: How long does it take to get aSIN?

A.: Providing you meet all of the crite-ria for getting a SIN, you shouldreceive your card by mail within threeweeks from the date you submit yourapplication. However, you should waitfour weeks before enquiring about thestatus of your card.

Job search and computer resources

Studies and reports on refugeeclaimants show that this group is usu-ally faced with many barriers toemployment. Limited literacy skills inone’s own language and/or limitedEnglish-language skills often meanthat refugee claimants have dependon welfare and social services. If youdon’t have the information and

40


resources you need to look for a job,that it also a barrier. The followinginformation should help you get start-

ed on the path to self-reliance and arewarding career in Canada.

Organization Telephone Services

Community Micro-skillsDevelopmentCentre SettlementServices

416-247-7181 Job search workshops, resume preparation, networking. Has programs funded by Social Services.

Job StartEmploymentResource Centre-Etobicoke South

416-231-2295 8-week pre-employment programme, job search workshops, computer training.

Canadian ArabFederation

416-493-8635 Job search program.

Arab CommunityCentre

416-231-7746 Document translation, resumes and cover letters.

AccessibleCommunityCounselling andEmploymentServices (ACCES)

416-921-1800 Job search workshops, resume preparation, job connect programme, employment and vocational counselling.

Catholic CrossCultural Services

416-757-7010 Job search program, computer training, ESL classes.

LearningEnrichmentFoundation

416-769-0830 Industrial skills development, advanced ESL

Skills for Change 416-658-7090 ESL, bookkeeping courses

TropicanaAlternative YouthCentre forEmployment

416-491-7000 Job search workshops.

World of Work 416-395-5080 A co-op program for professionals trying to break into the Canadian job market. Involves class and placement modules.

IW Job Placement 416-488-0084 Career planning, employment assistance, outreach toemployers.

Job search and computer resources for newcomers in Toronto

Cont....



Question & Answer

Q: Do I have to do voluntary work?

A.: People do voluntary work for dif-ferent reasons. If you are a refugeeclaimant, volunteering can help youget the Canadian experience you needto break into the highly competitivejob market. Volunteering is also agood way to use your personal timeand your skills to give something backto the community that has welcomedyou. Volunteering can help you makenew contacts and build your confi-dence in a new environment. If youare getting financial assistancethrough Ontario Works, you may alsobe able to get a monthly travel pass toget to your volunteer assignment anda one-time clothing allowance.

SOCIAL & FINANCIAL ASSISTANCEApplying for Welfare Assistance/Ontario Works Benefits

After you have moved out of a shelterand into your own accommodations,you can apply for Welfare Assistancethat provides enough money for basicfood and incidental expenses. Youmay also be able to get money fromthe Community Start-up Program tohelp pay for the cost of moving. Thisprogram gives an allowance that cov-ers the cost of deposits for rent afteryou have found reasonable accommo-dation. You will have to get a note ofPromise of Address from your prospec-tive landlord. It can also cover fuel orhydro, clothing, furniture and movingcosts. You can only use this programonce in a twelve-month period.

42

Organization Telephone Services

WoodgreenCommunity Centreof Toronto

416-462 3110 Employment counselling, resume preparation, job searchworkshops.

COSTI: www.costi.org

Catholic Community services of York Region: www.ccsyr.org

Career Solutions: www.york-net.org/careersolutions

Settlement Organisation: www.settlement.org

Neighbourhood Employment Resource Centre: www.york-net.org

Job search and computer resources for newcomers in Toronto

Internet Job Search Resources


Postal Code Location Telephone

M1J, M1K, M1P,M1R

Scarborough West Social Services1225 Kennedy Rd., Unit F.,Scarborough M1P 2L4

general inquiry phone number:416-392-2800 intake phone number: 416-392-2725

M1B, M1C, M1E,M1G, M1H, M1M,M1N, M1S, M1T,M1V, M1W, M1X

Scarborough North Social Services5639 Finch Ave. E., ScarboroughM1B 5L1


M2H, M2J, M2K,M2L, M2M, M2N,M2P, M2R, M3A,M3B, M4N, M5M

North York East Social Services20 Lesmill Rd., North York M3B 2T5


M3L, M3N, M9L,M9M, M9N

North York West Social Services1860 Wilson Ave., North York M9M 3A7


M3H, M3J, M3K,M3M, M6A, M6L

North York Central Social Services1117 Finch Ave. W., North York M3J 2P7


Social Services Offices in the City of Toronto

Cont....


To apply for welfare assistance, phonethe Welfare Office that is nearest towhere you are staying and make anappointment for an interview. Whenyou go for your interview, take the fol-lowing documents with you:

• You immigration papers, and

• Your SIN card, if you have alreadyreceived it.

Be prepared to spend at least half anhour giving details about your financialsituation and need. You must be ableto show that you will not be able tosurvive without help from public funds.

If you application is refused, you will begiven a letter explaining the reasons for

the refusal. You can appeal the decisionby asking for an internal review of yourcase. You must do this within 10 days ofreceiving your decision. For advice onthe appeal or the internal review, contactyour community legal clinic or Legal Aid.

Where to find to apply for SocialAssistance

There are 14 Social Services offices inthe City of Toronto. These offices onlyserve clients who live in certain postalcode areas. To find out which officeyou should contact for welfare assis-tance, find out the postal code foryour new home. Then find the firstthree letter s/numbers of your postalcode in the table below.


Postal Code Location Telephone

M1L, M3C, M4A,M4B, M4C, M4G,M4H

East York Social Services1450 O’Connor Dr Unit 33, North York M4B 2T8


M4E, M4J, M4L,M4M

East Toronto Social Services1631 Queen St. E., Toronto M4L 1G4


M4P, M4R, M4S,M4T, M4V, M5N,M5P, M6B, M6C,M6E, M6H

Central Toronto Social Services150 Eglinton Ave. E., Suite 900,Toronto M4P 3E2


M4K, M4W, M4X,M4Y, M5A, M5R

Downtown Toronto Social Services111 Wellesley St. E., Toronto M4Y 3A7


M6J, M6K, M6R,M6S

High Park/ Parkdale Social Services1900 Dundas St. W., Toronto M6R 3B6


M5B, M5C, M5E,M5G, M5H, M5J,M5K, M5L, M5R,M5S, M5T, M5V,M5W, M5X, M6G

Metro Hall Social Services214 Wellington St. W., Toronto M5V 3C6


M9R, M9V, M9W Etobicoke North Social Services220 Attwell Dr., Unit 4, EtobicokeM9W 6T9


M6M, M6N, M6P York/Humber Social Services605 Rogers Rd., 6th Floor, TorontoM6M 1B9


M8V, M8W, M8X,M8Y, M8Z, M9A,M9B, M9C, M9P

Etobicoke South Social Services779 The Queensway, EtobicokeM8Z 1N4


Social Services Offices in the City of Toronto Cont....


EDUCATIONAcademic Equivalency

Most employers will accept and rec-ognize foreign educational credentialsas long as they are consideredacceptable by a recognized Canadianeducational institution. It is up to youget obtain an equivalent certificate orassessment documentation. This willprove that the education you receivedoutside of Canada has been assessedand has been found to be equivalentto a certain level of education and/or acertain degree at a recognizedCanadian institution.

The level of assessment differs,depending on what you need it for. Forexample, if you need it for work pur-poses, it should normally take abouttwo weeks. If you need it to getaccepted at a Canadian school, collegeor university, it takes longer. This isbecause a course-by-course compari-son and assessment has to be made.

There are a number of institutions thatdo this type of assessment. Each onecharges a fee. Fees range from $80-$150. The average cost is $100. Ifyou don’t have enough money to payfor an assessment, speak to yoursocial services worker. You may qualifyfor financial assistance to cover thecost of this fee.

The following institutions do academic assessments.

Academic Credentials EvaluationService 416-736-5787Office of AdmissionsYork University4700 Keele StreetNorth York, Ontario M3J 1P3

Comparative Education Service 416-978-2185

University of Toronto315 Bloor Street WestToronto, Ontario M5S 1A3

World Education Services (WES)Canada 416-972-007045 Charles Street East, Suite 700Toronto, Ontario M4Y 1S2

Professional qualifications

In order to work at a licensed trade orprofession in Canada, all foreign-trained professionals need a formalconfirmation that their foreign credentialsmeet Canadian standards.

You can find more information on howto get this confirmation by visiting theCanadian Information Centre forInternational Credentials Web site atwww.settlement.org.

Language training

English as Second Language (ESL)classes

ESL classes help new Canadianslearn, improve or perfect their Englishspeaking, writing and reading skills.They also equip adults who have littleor no English with the language skillsto find a job in Toronto. Some loca-tions offer specialised ESL pro-grammes, for example, pronunciation.If you have specific needs, ask if thereare classes to meet those needs.

ESL classes are free if you are staying ata shelter or receiving welfare assistance.

To register for ESL classes, you firsthave to book an appointment at anassessment centre to have your com-petency in English assessed. This will



determine what level of ESL classeswill help you the most -- beginner,intermediate, advanced or TOEFL(Test of English as First Language).

When you go to you assessment, youwill need:

• Your immigration papers, to confirmyour refugee status;

• Or an acknowledgement of Intent toClaim Refugee Status documents.

Who to Contact for an Assessment

To book an appointment for anassessment, or to get more informa-tion about ESL classes and classlocations in your area, please contactyour local assessment centre.

Toronto District Board of EducationAssessment Centres/Offices

East Toronto 416-396-6909140 Borough Drive, ScarboroughWhen to call: Monday-Friday: 9 a.m.and 12 noon.

North Toronto 416-395-8080 5050 Yonge Street, North YorkWhen to call: Monday-Friday: 9 a.m.and 5 p.m.

South Toronto 416-397-3827155 College Street, TorontoWhen to call: Monday-Friday: 9 a.m.and 5 p.m.

Toronto West 416-394-71001 Civic Centre Court, Ground Floor,EtobicokeWhen to call: Monday-Friday: 9 a.m.and 5 p.m.

First Contact

First contact staff would be happy toprovide you with information on eligi-

bility and the ESL classes located nearwhere you stay.

416-771-9540

2 Homewood Avenue, Toronto (at thecorner of Carlton St. and Jarvis St.)

OTHER TYPES OF HELP: NGOsthat can help refugee claimants

There are many community agenciesand non-governmental agencies thatcan help you with processing yourclaim. These range from ethno-basedcommunity agencies to non-profitorganisations. Choose one from the listbelow that you feel comfortable with.

Amnesty International56 Temperance St., 8th Floor (nearBay St. and Queen St. W.)Toronto, ON M5H 3V5

416-363-9933

Services: Advocacy on behalf of pris-oners of conscience and politicalrefugees. Has a refugee network pro-gram and library open to the publicwith information on human rights vio-lations in specific countries.

Advocacy Centre for the Elderly2 Carlton St., Toronto, ON M5B 1J3

416-598-2656

Services: Advocacy for people 60years and older. Offers referral servic-es for refugee claimants. Also handlesnon-immigration-related cases ofabuse. For example, if a relative whohandles your finances for you is usingyour funds for their own benefit or ifyou are living with a person who ismistreating you physically or verbally,you may be eligible for assistance.The age limit can be waived in deserv-ing circumstances.

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Refugee and ImmigrantsInformation Centre Toronto Inc 597 Parliament St., Suite B4Toronto, ON M4X 1W3

416-961-7027

Services: Helps with the refugee claimprocess. Also helps failed claimantsin the appeal/judiciary review process.Conducts ESL classes, translationservices. Offers immigration andpara-legal services like help withPersonal Information Files and HumanRights applications.

Support agencies for your refugeedetermination process

You can call these organizations forhelp and information.

Salvation Army. Immigrant andRefugee Services Centre

416-360-6036

Services: Settlement services, orienta-tion, information and referral, includingreferrals to other Salvation Army pro-grams that provide material assistanceand shelter, help with filling out formsand ESL classes.

St Christopher House416-532-4828

Services: Employment, housing help,language training and counsellingservices. Has offices around the city.Call for the location nearest you.

COSTI 416-658-1600Services: Provides educational, social,and employment assistance, andemergency shelter.

Centre Francophone du TorontoMétropolitain

416-203-1220

Services: Caters to Toronto’s French-speaking population. Helps with ori-entation, settlement, information andreferrals. Also seeks to promote thehuman, cultural and community link-ages within the francophone popula-tion in Toronto.

South Asian Women’s Centre416-537-2276

Services: Provides employment services,food, housing, housing help, languagetraining and legal services to SouthAsian women.

Roma Community and AdvocacyCentre

416-588-6288Services: Settlement assistance andhelp with the refugee to Roma (Gypsies).

Centre for Spanish Speaking People416-533-8545

Services: Serves new immigrants from22 countries and other members of avery diverse Spanish-speaking commu-nity. Services include settlement infor-mation, translation of official documents,Interpretation in interviews and by tele-phone, affidavits and legal advice.

Culture Link 416-588-6288 Services: Orientation and workshopfacilitation. Has referral services andoffers volunteer opportunities for newimmigrants, including refugeeclaimants. Currently working on aNewcomer Youth Centre project.

Assaulted Women’s Helpline416-863-0511

Services: 24-hour crisis counselling,support and information. Providesreferrals to shelters, legal, health, coun-selling and ethno-specific resources.



Catholic Cross Cultural Services (CCS)416-324-8225

Services: Centre for information andreferral. Runs periodic workshops onrefugee and immigration issues, freeInternet and computer access. CCSalso offers language, employment andsupport services for women.

Canadian Centre for Victims ofTorture 416-363-1066Services: Offers mental health, coun-selling, individual and group therapy tosurvivors of torture or traumatic warexperiences, regardless of immigrationstatus.

Canadian Refugee and ImmigrantCounselling Services (CRICS)

416-506 1163Services: Provides culturally sensitivetrauma counselling, mental healthservices and life management supportservices to refugees and immigrants.Counsellors have special training inpre-immigration trauma, the migrationprocess and post immigration difficul-ties. Individual counselling is available.All services are free of charge, but youmust call to make an appointment.

Quaker Committee for Refugees416-964-9669

Services: Information referral, coun-selling, welfare and help with filling outforms.

Dixie-Bloor Neighbourhood Centre905-629-1873

Services: Offers services in Russianand Ukrainian. Dixie-BloorNeighbourhood House is a communitycentre that provides settlement anddocument translation services. Also

has employment support programmesand co-ordinates volunteer work foradults and youth.

Ethno-Specific NGOs

Afghan Association416-744-9289

Services: Deals primarily with landedimmigrants, but also provides referralservices, such as referrals to emer-gency shelters, to refugee claimants.

Canadian African Newcomer Aid416-658-8030

Services: Offers an integrated programfor refugee claimants that includesinformation sessions, housing, com-puter program and a program for theelderly.

African Refugee and Immigrant AidOrganisation

647-436-7520Services: Settlement services, advocacy,information and referral, interpretationand translation, assistance in accessingservices for foreign-trained professionalsand trades people.

The Arab Community Centre ofToronto (ACCT)

416-231-7746 Services: Offers a range of settlementservices to the Arab community.Holds job search workshops and hasa program for community volunteers.

Canadian Ukrainian Immigrant AidSociety

416 767 4595Services: Provides basic settlementservices for refugee claimants andhelps with filling out papers.

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Chinese Information andCommunity Services

416-203-1220Services: Offers referral and informa-tion services in Chinese and English.

Afghan Women’s Counselling andIntegration Community SupportOrganisation

416-588-3585Services: Provide referral services andcan help with identifying a lawyer. Alsoassists with filling out papers.

Jamaican Canadians Association416-746-5772

Services: Mainly provides referrals toother programs. Also helps with jobsearch skills and access to education-al opportunities.

Tamil Eelan Society of Canada416-463-7647

Services: Mainly serves Sri-lankansbut also assists Indians and Pakistaniswho are Tamil. Specialist servicesinclude settlement information, jobsearch assistance and a WomanAiding Woman programme.

Kababayan Community Centre416-532-3888

Services: Provides computer classesand has an orientation programme fornewcomers to Canada.

Mennonite New Life Centre ofToronto

416-699-4527Services: Offers an orientation pro-gramme with Spanish, Italian, French,and Croatian translation. Has in-groupparenting program. Provides help withobtaining Legal Aid and counsellingservices.

Midayanta Association of SomaliService Agencies

416-922-0392Services: Offers settlement services inSomali and English. Monitors sponsor-ship and immigration cases. Conductsorientation sessions and has a housingassistance programme.


manual for refugees

Documents