Newcomers

The Housing Help Centre can help you get settled in Toronto and York Region if you’re a sponsored immigrant, a permanent resident, or a refugee. We can help you find market rent or subsidized housing in the Greater Toronto Area through one-on-one counselling to determine your needs.

If you’re looking for subsidized housing, we’ll assist you with filling out and submitting application forms, as well as with understanding how subsidized housing works.

Our settlement team helps newcomers integrate into Canadian society by doing the following:

• Assessing the settlement needs of each individual and developing a customized settlement plan 
• Conducting orientation sessions to help newcomers understand life in Canada
• Assisting with subsidized housing applications, market rental listings, and other housing related programs
• Assisting with applications for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) and the Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP)
• Completing government application forms such as those for permanent resident status and Canadian citizenship, OHIP cards, Trillium Drug Benefits, and Ontario Works
• Conducting monthly citizenship classes and helping with Canadian citizenship test preparation
• Helping to file income tax through THHC’s Income Tax Clinic
• Referring people for programs that help with job searching, language assessment, education, and skill development

Information Sessions

We run regular sessions with information about how to access social and community resources, and how to navigate different administrative systems to get the help you need. Our information sessions provide information on a variety of topics, including:

• Subsidized (or rent-geared-to-income) and market rent housing in the City of Toronto and York Region
• Rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords
• Monthly newcomer sessions on key settlement issues: housing, labour market information, education and health system in Ontario and government benefits
• How to apply for or renew your Permanent Resident (PR) card and Canadian citizenship
• Financial topics such as utility programs, banking, taxation, child benefits and government assistance
• Referrals to other community agencies for language assessment, skills development, and job search

Financial Literacy Program

Financial Literacy Program provides financial education and advocacy to manage financial resources effectively and raise the awareness among newcomers in the City of Toronto and York Region. It includes information sessions, both one-on-one and group, on budget, banking, credit & scams, government benefits and taxation and referrals to income support programs.

Housing and Utility Programs

If you’re having trouble paying your rent or utilities, we also have a number of programs available to help you cover those costs, like the Rent Bank (if you are living in Toronto) and Utility Programs and the Ontario Electricity Support Program.

Drop-in Services

THHC’s head office hosts a drop-in program each Tuesday morning from 9:00 to 11:00 AM. During these sessions, you can come in and fill out housing applications with staff and book follow-up appointments. Please remember to bring Permanent Resident Card or Convention Refugee document with you when you visit, as that will make it easier for us to help you.

Our Partner Organizations

The Housing Help Centre is partnered with a number of organizations across Toronto and York Region to provide comprehensive access to services. Here is a list of which organizations we’ve partnered with, and where each one is located.

Toronto Employment and Social:

Bridlewood TESS
2900 Warden Ave, Scarborough, M1W 2S8 Monthly - 1st & 3rd Tuesdays  9:30 am - 11:30 am

Malvern TESS
325 Milner Ave., Scarborough, M1B 5N1 Monthly - Last two Thursdays: 9:30 am- 11:30 am

Toronto Public Library:

Albert Campbel Branch
496 Birchmount Road, Scarborough, M1K 1N8         Weekly - Wednesdays 2 pm - 5 pm

Cedarbrae Branch
545 Markham Rd, Scarborough, M1H 2A1                Weekly - Thursdays 1 pm - 4:30 pm

Malvern Branch
30 Sewells Rd, Scarborough, M1B 3G5                    Weekly Tuesdays - 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Community Organizations:

Alliance for South Asian Aids Prevention (ASAAP)

120 Carlton St. #212, Toronto, M5A 4K3 - call for appointments, (416) 599-2727

Catholic Cross-Cultural Services  (St. Stephen's Community House)

3227 Eglinton Ave E, Unit 135, Scarborough M1J 2H5 Weekly- Thursdays - 1:00 pm - 5 pm

5231 Yonge Street, Unit 200, North York, M2N 5P8 Weekly - Thursdays - 1:00 pm - 5 pm

University Settlement

6075 Yonge Street, 4th Floor, Toronto,  M2M 3W2 - Weekly - Fridays: 9 am -5:00 pm

Our Supervisor

To get in touch with our settlement supervisor, call Ambi Sinna at 416 285 8070 ext. 310 or email ambi.sinna@thhc.org.