Provincial and National Services
Ontario Association Credit Counselling Services
Call 1-800-746-3328 or visit www.oaccs.ca.
A provincial not-for-profit organization that provides information and referral to 26 member credit counselling services. The services include advice regarding:
- budgeting
- dealing with creditors
- paying off your debt at a rate you can manage
- restoring credit
Community Information Centres
Call 211 or visit www.211Ontario.ca and type 'community information centre' in the search box to see if there is a Centre in your area.
Community Information Centres are not-for-profit groups that gather information on local government, community, and social services, including crisis services, shelters and counselling.
Kids Help Phone
Call 1-800-668-6868 or visit www.kidshelpphone.ca.
A free, 24-hour telephone support and information line for children and youth. Available in English and French.
Distress Centres Ontario
Call the operator, or check the list of emergency numbers in the front of your telephone book, for the distress centre or help line in your area, or visit www.dcontario.org for a list of member centres.
Gamblers Anonymous (GA)
Visit www.gamblersanonymous.org for a list of meetings across Canada.
GA is available in many communities. Based on Alcoholics Anonymous, GA uses a 12-step self-help approach to recovery.
Gam-Anon
Visit www.gam-anon.org and search for your province/city.
Gam-Anon is peer support for family members and friends of people with gambling problems. It helps them cope, stop blaming themselves for the person’s gambling problems, and focus on their own health and well-being.
Legal Resources
Legal Information brochures:
Law Society Referral Service (LSRS)
Call 1-800-268-8326 or 416-947-3330 (in the GTA) or visit lrs.lsuc.on.ca/lsrs.
The LSRS will provide you with the name of a lawyer or licensed paralegal who will provide a free consultation of up to 30 minutes to help you determine your rights and options. Read the LSRS Frequently Asked Questions to learn more.
Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO)
Call 416-408-4420 or visit www.cleo.on.ca.
CLEO is a not-for-profit legal information service. It provides easy-to-understand printed information on legal issues such as creditor harassment, family law and landlord/tenant issues.
Legal Aid Ontario
Call 1-800-668-8258 or visit www.legalaid.on.ca.
Legal Aid can help you pay for legal help if you have a low income. If you qualify, you can get financial help for a variety of legal problems, including criminal matters, family law, and immigration and refugee law. You may also be able to get help with some civil cases and appeals of decisions that have been made which affect you.
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