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Advocacy Centres
Amnesty International
Toronto Regional Office
Office phone: 416-363-9933
Toll-free phone: 1-800-266-3789 Ottawa ; 1-800-AMNESTY Ottawa
Fax: 416-363-3103
Email: toronto@amnesty.ca
Web site: www.amnesty.ca
Address: 14 Dundonald St, Toronto, ON, M4K 1K2
Location: (Intersection) Toronto Central (Yonge St-Wellesley St E)
Hours: Tue-Thu 10-5
Languages of service: English ; French ; Spanish
Physical access: Not wheelchair accessible
Service description: International human rights organization * advocates to free prisoners of conscience and to ensure fair and prompt trials for political prisoners * works to abolish torture and the death penalty * library open to public* Amnesty International can only provide support in cases where there is evidence a refugee claimant will be returned to face grave human rights abuses as covered by our mission; i.e. unlawful detention, torture, "disappearance", or death. The perpetrators of these abuses maybe state or non-state actors
Toronto Refugee Network -- works on behalf of refugee claimants at risk of being sent back to a country where they may face arbitrary detention, torture or execution * call for appointment
Council of Agencies Serving South Asians (CASSA)
Office phone: (416) 932-1359
Fax: (416) 932-9305
E-mail: cassa@cassa.on.ca
Website: www.cassa.on.ca
Address: 1992 Yonge St, Ste 205, Toronto, ON, M4S 1Z7
Location: Toronto North (Yonge St-Millwood Rd)
Contacts Ishara Jeyachandran, Finance/Office Administrator, ishara_jeyachandran@cassa.on.ca
Farrukh Saleem, Webmaster, web@cassa.on.ca
Area served: Greater Toronto Area
Hours: Mon-Fri 9-5
Language of service: English ; Hindi ; Punjabi ; Urdu
Fees: Free
Physical access: Wheelchair accessible building including main entrance * tone elevator
Service description: Umbrella organization of agencies, individuals and groups serving the South Asian community * advocacy * research and community development * community social planning * coalition building * member services include counselling, support, training, information exchange * referrals for the general community to service providers * youth programming * volunteer development * anti-racism activities including Hate Crime Reporting Hotline 416-979-8611 ext 1
INTERCEDE for the Rights of Domestic Workers, Caregivers and Newcomers
Office phone 416-483-4554
Toll-free phone 1-877-483-4554
Fax 416-483-9781
Email info@intercedetoronto.org
Address 234 Eglinton Ave E, Ste 405, Toronto, ON, M4P 1K5
Location (Intersection) Toronto North (Mount Pleasant Rd-Eglinton Ave E)
Hours Mon-Fri 9-5
Languages of service English ; Filipino ; translation/interpretation may be arranged for Spanish and other languages
Eligibility Domestic workers in or out of the Live-in Caregiver Program, as well as caregivers, other work permit holders and Filipino newcomers * also family members
How to apply Fill out client information forms and bring relevant documents * most services by appointment
Fees None
Physical access Wheelchair accessible building including main entrance and barrier free washrooms * elevator with lowered buttons
Service description Information, referral and counselling on immigration, employment, human rights * orientation for newcomers * settlement services * resume preparation * emotional support * advocacy * support groups * off site outreach meetings * skills upgrading and leadership workshops * recreation activities * education meeting 1st Sunday of every month 3-5 pm at 58 Cecil St * confidential
Job Search Workshops (JSW) -- for new immigrants and Convention refugees, legally entitled to work in Canada * 3 or 4 day job search techniques workshops, covering labour market information, access to trades and professions, resume preparation, networking * extensive individual assistance
Metropolitan Action Committee on Violence Against Women and Children (METRAC)
Office phone: (416) 392-3135
Toll-free phone: 1-877-558-5570
TTY number: 416-392-3031
Fax: (416) 392-3136
E-mail: info@metrac.org
Website: www.metrac.org
Address: 158 Spadina Road, Toronto, Ontario, M5R 2T8
Location: Toronto North (Spadina Rd-Dupont St)
Area served: Ontario
Hours: Mon-Fri 9-5 * resource centre -- by appointment
Language of service: English
Fees: Membership fee
Physical access: Not wheelchair accessible * street parking
Service description: Systemic advocacy * works with community groups, governments, professionals and survivors of violence to develop research, public education, urban design and safety, support services, law reform * Young Women's Anti-Violence Speakers Bureau * resource library * publications include Women's Safety Audit Guide, Sexual Assault: A Guide to the Criminal System, Stalking Action Book, Stalking Facts and Issues, Mediation, Making Community and Workplace Safer for Women * information packages * coordinates Ontario Women's Justice Network, an electronic network -- www.owjn.org * convenes a women's multicultural coalition against urban violence and oppression * referral listing of services for women in Toronto available on bookmark
Ontario Coalition Against Poverty
Office phone 416-925-6939
Email ocap@tao.ca
Web site www.ocap.ca
Address 10 Britain St, Toronto, ON, M5A 1R6
Location (Intersection) Toronto Central (Jarvis St-Queen St E)
Hours Vary
Area served Ontario
Languages of service English, Somali, Spanish, French
Service description Direct action anti-poverty organization * campaigns against regressive government policies * advocates for individuals facing eviction, termination of social assistance, deportation
St Christopher House
Financial Advocacy and Problem Solving
Office phone 416-848-7980
Fax 416-848-7985
Email miryamze@stchrishouse.org
Web site www.stchrishouse.org
Address 1033 King St W, Toronto, ON, M6K 3N3
Location (Intersection) Toronto West (Strachan Ave-King St W)
Contacts Miryam Zeballos, Coordinator, 416-848-7980 ext 245
Hours Mon-Fri 9-5
Area served Bloor St W-Lake Ontario; Bathurst St-Roncesvalles Ave
Languages of service Chinese (Cantonese) ; Chinese (Mandarin) ; English ; Hindi ; Punjabi ; Spanish ; Urdu
Eligibility Adults with low incomes and their families
Physical access Wheelchair accessible building including main entrance and barrier free washrooms
Service description Information, referral and advocacy regarding financial issues such as social assistance, year-round income tax, credit, debt, access to financial services, savings and assets * public education, policy development
Also at this location -- Book Nook, book collection provided in partnership with Toronto Public Library * staffed by volunteers
Worker’s Action Centre
Merger of Toronto Organizing for Fair Employment (TOFFE) and Workers' Information Centre (WIC)
Office phone: (416) 531-0778
Fax: (416) 533-0107
E-mail: info@workersactioncentre.org
Website: www.workersactioncentre.org
Address: 720 Spadina Ave, Ste 223, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2T9
Location: Toronto Central (Spadina Ave-Bloor St W)
Area served: City of Toronto
Hours: Vary, call for details * evening appointments can be arranged
Language of service: English, Spanish, Tamil * interpreters available for other languages (may be longer response time)
Eligibility: Open to all * particular focus on immigrant and visible minority workers with low incomes and unstable employment
How to apply: Call for appointment
Fees: Free
Physical access: Wheelchair accessible -- call for details
Service description: Workers rights education * information and referral on work-related issues such as employment law, human rights, harassment, Employment Insurance (EI), workers' compensation, health and safety legislation * information and drop-in sessions for workers wanting in-depth information on asserting their rights and protecting themselves at work * strategies and support regarding unpaid wages, vacation pay and holiday pay * referrals
Working Women Community Centre
Office phone: (416) 532-2824
Fax: (416) 532-1065
E-mail: marcie@workingwomencc.org ; admin@workingwomencc.org
Website: www.workingwomencc.org
Address: 533A Gladstone Ave, Toronto, Ontario, M6H 3J1
Location: Toronto West (Dufferin St-Bloor St W)
Hours: Mon-Fri 9-5
Language of service: Arabic, English, Ewe, Farsi, Ga, Hausa, Portuguese, Spanish, Tigrinya, Twi
Eligibility: Immigrant and refugee women and their families
How to apply: Call for appointment
Physical access: Wheelchair accessible building including main entrance and barrier free washrooms
Service description: Community centre * settlement services -- information and referral, orientation, interpretation, supportive counselling, documentation, social assistance applications * individual counselling and support groups for assaulted women * workshops * participates in LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada), upon assessment by YMCA of Greater Toronto, child care provided -- see separate entry * ESL/introduction to computers * employment assistance services including counselling, job search training * income tax clinic * Portuguese women's support group * Spanish-speaking senior women's club * support group for African women * advocacy * public education * community development * some programs may be held in other locations
No One is Illegal- Toronto http://toronto.nooneisillegal.org
Group of immigrants, refugees and allies working to educate, mobilize and network to defend the rights of immigrants, migrant workers, refugees, and indigenous peoples in Toronto. Also helps individual non-status people facing deportation. They do not offer legal representation, but can assist the person in finding legal representation if needed and work together with the person and their lawyer. Email: nooneisillegal@riseup.net
Immigration Legal Committee 416-633-1065
Collective of legal professionals and law students working for the rights of immigrants and refugees, especially non-status migrants. They offer practical workshops for community service workers and non-status people on immigrant rights, with a focus on the needs of people with no legal status or uncertain status.
Don’t Ask Don’t Tell
Voice Mail: 416-597-5820 ext: 5438
The Don’t Ask Don’t Tell campaign is organized by No One Is Illegal and a coalition of various community groups within the Greater Toronto Area. Their goal is to create a city policy to allow all individuals, regardless of immigration status, to safely access all services within Toronto, such as education, police, health, housing, social services, shelters, food banks, and more.
Grassroots Youth Collaborative
215 Spadina Ave 4th floor 416-644-1015 ext 1281
GYC is a collective of culturally and racially diverse youth-led organizations that work in underserved, lower-income, at-risk communities. The programs delivered by our members reach out and engage young people who are typically missed by more mainstream youth programming (including youth who do not have full immigration status)
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