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Support for refugee claimants

If you just arrived in Peel as a refugee, there are many services to help you.

Peel Region:

If you have questions or want more information about how Peel Region can help you:

Other information

Affordable housing list for the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

Smaller municipalities that are more likely to have a shorter waiting list.

Access an interactive map of cooperative housing locations. Wait times vary.

Summarized list of apartment postings within the GTA. These are typically gathered from multiple advertising sites.

Newspaper classified sites.

Apartment listing websites:

Access these services in Peel for help and information about money, health, and adjusting to life in Peel.

Finances and money

Ontario Works

The Ontario government gives financial help to refugee claimants through a program called Ontario Works. People who want Ontario Works must have official papers that prove they have made a claim for refugee protection.

Health care

The Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) will temporarily pay for some health care services for refugee claimants in Canada if the claimants do not have provincial, territorial, or private health-care coverage.

Refugee HealthLine

Call the Refugee HealthLine for free at 1-866-286-4770. The Refugee HealthLine is available in many languages. It will connect refugee claimants with health care providers who deliver temporary health care and services. Refugees, resettlement assistance programs, sponsors, and settlement agencies can also call the Refugee HealthLine to help match refugees with:

  • Primary care providers (refugee health clinics, community health centres, family health teams, nurse practitioner-led clinics, midwifery practices, physician practices, and walk-in clinics).
  • Specialists (obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, and psychiatry).
  • Mental health service providers.
  • Optometrists.

The Refugee HealthLine will refer agencies and individuals to the closest providers who can help give eligible patients temporary care.

Adjusting to life in Peel

Settlement.org is a website that gives newcomers and refugees information and resources about living in Ontario.

Visit this website to:

  • Get important information.
  • Read relevant news.
  • Ask questions.
  • Share your experiences with others.
  • Get a list of community organizations.

211

211 is a free helpline that will not share your personal information with others. It is available every day, all day and night, online and by phone in more than 150 languages. Call or text 2-1-1 or visit 211Central.ca to chat live about these and other community services:

  • Newcomer and settlement services
  • Employment and training programs
  • 2SLGBTQ+ resources
  • Mental health supports
  • Legal aid services
  • Child care programs
  • Transportation

ImmigrationPeel.ca

ImmigrationPeel.ca provides newcomers to Canada with information about local services, programs, and events that will help them adjust and embrace the Peel Community faster and easier.

Orientation to Ontario Workbook

The Orientation to Ontario Workbook gives newcomers information about health care, education, child care, employment opportunities and housing in the Province of Ontario.

We are working to help all refugee claimants in Peel settle into the community for either a short while or for a long time.

We are focusing on:

  • Getting other governments involved in helping refugees.
  • Getting the right information to the right people at the right time.
  • Working more closely with other settlement and service providers.
  • Seeing where certain aspects are missing from settlement support systems and suggesting opportunities to address them.

Peel Region has also united with the Salvation Army to provide:

  • Settlement services at temporary Peel Region shelters.
  • Information and referrals to other supports such as counselling, pre-employment support, translation, and support to 2SLGBTQ+.