Bridging the Information Gap for Refugees in Toronto

Many refugees arrive in Toronto with the daunting reality of finding themselves homeless, with little resources and hardly any knowledge of the services that can provide help. Often they don’t know where to turn and find themselves extremely vulnerable. The Canadian Red Cross First Contact Program aims to provide these refugees with the tools that help them to prevent further dislocation, distress and exploitation.

Red Cross provides refugee claimants with information on how to find affordable housing, process a refugee claim, secure employment, as well as how to apply for legal aid or social assistance. Giving the right information at the right time to refugee claimants greatly improves their chances of integration and smoothes their transition to a new life in Canada.

The program provides a variety of services including:

• a 24 hour/7 days a week emergency telephone service for use by new arrivals to the city who need immediate shelter assistance - (416) 771-9540 or toll free: 1-866-902-4996
• a drop-in centre where refugees can access services, obtain information, make local phone calls and access the internet
• a resource package that contains information on different settlement services and more

Services are offered in several languages. Workshops are provided by agencies with an expertise in refugee issues.

For more information, contact:

• (416) 480-2500 - during regular business hours, Monday to Friday, 8:30a.m. to 5:00p.m.