Welcome to Ontario.
You’re not alone.

Free help for newcomers in one place: health care, food, jobs, school, legal help and support to start a business. Most services are free and many are offered in your language. Direct links to the services newcomers need most

Settlement help

211 Ontario

This is a single number for food, housing, newcomer services and more. 

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IRCC free newcomer services finder

It covers permanent residents (including resettled refugees), approved-in-principle PR applicants, and protected persons. 

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Emergency shelter (Toronto)

Call the central line at 1-877-338-3398.

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Emergency and crisis lines (free, 24/7)

Emergency

Police, Fire, Ambulance

Call 911

Suicide prevention

Call or text 9-8-8. If you can’t dial 988, use 1-833-456-4566. Service is in English, French and ASL, with interpreters for other languages.

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Mental health and addictions

Call 1-866-531-2600 any time, or text CONNEX to 247247. Phone interpretation is available in more than 170 languages.

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Health

OHIP (health card)

Apply for OHIP and get a health card. There is no waiting period, so apply as soon as you arrive. Go to a ServiceOntario location with proof of your identity, your immigration status, and your Ontario address.

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Health811 (free nurse advice)

Call 811 (1-866-797-0000) or chat online. You don’t need a health card. Phone translation is available in more than 200 languages.

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Find a family doctor

Refers you to doctors and nurse practitioners accepting new patients. Toll-free.

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Food

Daily Bread Food Bank (Toronto)

Its Find a Food Bank tool shows the closest food bank in its network across Toronto. Phone: 416-203-0050

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North York Harvest Food Bank

Daily Bread serves Toronto except North York, which has its own food bank.

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Outside Toronto

Call 211 to find your nearest food bank.

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Education and jobs

OSAP (student grants and loans)

Application is open for full-time and part-time students. You must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person living in Ontario.

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Employment Ontario

Free help with resumes, interviews and job searches at more than 700 locations. Hotline: 1-800-387-5656.

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Service finder by postal code

Find a service in your area.

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Small business and startups

Toronto Small Business Enterprise Centre

Free guidance, information and one-to-one consultations.

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Starter Company Plus (an actual grant)

You apply through a Small Business Enterprise Centre. Toronto’s intake is currently closed, so check back or try another centre.

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Futurpreneur

Heads-up: Futurpreneur does not give grants. It offers loans with no collateral, plus mentorship. You must be 18–39 and a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. 

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Small business and startups

Legal Aid Ontario

Connects low-income Ontarians to legal help in over 300 languages, Mon–Fri 8 am–5 pm, at 1-800-668-8258.

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Ontario Legal Information Centre

Anyone in Ontario can get a free 30-minute meeting with a lawyer, online or by phone. Call 1-844-343-7462

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Ontario Works (financial assistance)

Get Financial Assistance 

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