Crisis and urgent help
Immediate danger, suicide and distress, violence, and poison help in Ontario and Canada.
Get help, without guessing where to start
One calm place to find real help in Ontario and Canada: who to call tonight, what to bring to an appointment, and what happens on your first call. Every number here was checked against an official source in October 2026.
What do you need help with?
Housing help
Emergency shelter tonight, help with rent arrears and eviction, and long-term subsidised housing in Ontario.
Money and benefits
Ontario Works, ODSP, federal child and tax benefits, and help with bills, debt and fraud.
Health and mental health
OHIP, finding a doctor, Health811, mental health and addictions support in Ontario.
Settlement for newcomers
Free settlement services, language classes, SIN, credentials and first steps after arriving in Canada.
Work and employment
Free employment help, job search, workers’ rights, and training in Ontario.
Legal help
Free and low-cost legal information, community legal clinics, Legal Aid Ontario, and tenant rights.
Food and essentials
Food banks, food cupboards, meal programs and essentials across Ontario — 827 listings, organized by city and region.
Help for a specific situation
Help for youth
Counselling, mental health and peer support for children, teens and young adults.
Help for seniors
Safety, abuse prevention and support for older adults in Ontario.
Help for Indigenous peoples
Culturally specific crisis, healing and support lines, led by Indigenous organisations.
Help for 2SLGBTQ+ people
Peer support and crisis help for 2SLGBTQ+ youth and adults.
Help for people with disabilities
Income, health benefits, assistive devices and disability legal help.
Help for veterans and families
Free, confidential support for Canadian Armed Forces veterans, former RCMP members and their families.
Help in French
French-language crisis, health, settlement and legal routes in Ontario.
Help for newcomers and refugees
Settlement, language and refugee support — see also the Settlement section.
How this guide works — in 4 steps
1. Triage first
Danger → 911. Suicide or distress → 988. Health question, not an emergency → 811. Everything else → 211.
2. Pick one main need
Housing, money, health, legal, work, food or settlement. One need at a time keeps the first call short.
3. Call local
Most help is local and catchment-based. Your city, household and language shape the right referral.
4. Keep your plan
Add resources to My plan below, print it, and take it to the appointment. Note names, hours and any reference number you are given.
Common questions
Do I need to give my name to get help?
You do not need to give your name to get information from 211, and most crisis lines are confidential or anonymous. They will explain the limits of confidentiality — for example, if someone may be in immediate danger.
Is a landlord notice an eviction?
No. A landlord’s N-form notice is not an eviction. Only the Landlord and Tenant Board can order an eviction, and only the Sheriff can enforce it. Talk to a community legal clinic before you agree to leave or sign anything.
Is there one Ontario shelter phone number?
No — and any guide that prints one as province-wide is misleading. Shelters are local. Call 211, or your city’s municipal line (in Ottawa and Toronto, 311 for municipal services), for tonight’s availability near you.
What should I bring to an appointment?
See Documents checklists. In general: ID, proof of status and Ontario address, income information, and any letter or notice you received. Food banks and shelters vary — check the local listing first.
My plan — print it and take it with you
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