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Programs and services across Ontario - Making a refugee claim
Programs and services across Ontario - Making a refugee claim
Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) - Immigration/refugee law services
Contact Information
Due to funding cuts in April 2019, LAO is taking steps to reduce its immigration and refugee work.
LAO does help people with some immigration and refugee problems. For example, you might be able to get help:
- if you’re detained for immigration reasons
- to complete a Basis of Claim form
Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) - Refugee Law Offices
LAO funds Refugee Law Offices to help people mainly living in Toronto, Hamilton, and Ottawa who want to make a refugee claim. They can represent refugee claimants who qualify for a legal aid certificate.
To qualify for legal aid, you must show that you have a low income by giving information about your income, property, and savings. And, your refugee law issue must be one that LAO covers.
They may also offer other services, for example, representing people at detention reviews.
Law Society of Ontario - Lawyer and Paralegal Directory
The directory lists all lawyers and paralegals licensed to give legal services in Ontario. You can search by name, address or postal code, language, and area of law. You can also search for services offered in French and for unbundled services.
First Contact Ontario
Contact Information
The Canadian Red Cross First Contact Program has services to help refugees. This includes:
- information about emergency shelter, social services, legal and health services
- information about the refugee process, Interim Federal Health coverage, legal aid, the shelter system, social services, English classes, work permits, and more
- 24/7 telephone information and referral services
Community legal clinics
Legal Aid Ontario funds community legal clinics across Ontario to give free legal services to people with low incomes. Lawyers, community legal workers, and law students can help people with some legal problems, like social assistance, housing, and workers' rights.
To get help from a clinic:
- your legal issue must be one the clinic deals with
- you must live in the area the clinic serves
- you must have a low income
Most clinics also give brief advice or what’s called "summary advice", without asking about your financial situation. If your local clinic can't help you, they may be able to refer you to someone in your community who can.