Local community resources and other supports

In addition to the supports offered through Halton Region, there are a number of supports offered by local community organizations and the Provincial and Federal governments. Several newcomer resources are available online, including resettlement supports, services and resources for both newcomers as well as those looking to offer assistance. Halton Community Service Directory (external link) provides a comprehensive directory of community service information in Halton, some select resources are listed below.

Newcomer supports/settlement services

• Achēv (external link) delivers employment, newcomer, language and youth services, including a wide range of immigrant services to help newcomers settle in Canada. Supports include: education and training, employment, health, housing, legal, financial, social and recreational.
• Canadian Ukrainian Immigrant Aid Society (CUIAS) (external link) - a non-profit community organization, providing settlement assistance to immigrants for over 30 years with the support of the federal government (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) and provincial government (Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration).
• Centre for Skills Development (external link) provides free services for qualified immigrants new to Canada and Halton Region. Services include English classes, enhanced language training, settlement assistance, and job search assistance.
• HMC Connections (external link): Halton Multicultural Council is a settlement agency that provides a variety of programs and services to immigrant and refugee communities.
• Halton District School Board - The Welcome Centre (external link): The Welcome Centresupports new/returning families to the Halton Region and offers services, including: registration, assessment and settlement support. Fee-paying paying students and their families are supported through the International Students Program.
• Indus Community Services (external link) is a non-profit organization that provides culturally appropriate services to newcomers, families, women and seniors.
• Oakville Public Library (external link) works closely with HMC Connections, Centre for Skills Development, and Achēv Newcomer Information Centre to bring a variety of programs and events for newcomers to their locations.
• YMCA Immigrant Services (external link): YMCA of Hamilton, Burlington, Brantford helps newcomers connect with a wide range of services such as health care, education, and language help, and supports newcomers with completing forms and documents, licensing and accreditation, interpretation and translation.

Other Community Organizations

• Oakville Community Foundation - Oakville Resettlement Fund (external link): With the growing crisis in the Ukraine, donations made to the Oakville Resettlement Fund will help future Ukrainian arrivals in the Oakville and Halton Area.
• LifeWorks (external link) is a world leader in providing digital and in-person solutions that support the mental health and wellbeing of individuals and has opened a specialized Crisis Support Line (external link) for anyone in need of emotional support in relation to the events in Ukraine. The Crisis Support Line is open 24/7 and can be reached at 1-844-751-2133. By calling, individuals will receive professional emotional support and/or referral to community resources.
• Food for Life (external link): For a list of currently open neighbourhood food programs run by municipality.

Provincial and Federal Government

Government of Canada

• Immigration measures for people affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine (external link): Main webpage that provides information for Ukrainian individuals to come to Canada and extend their stay in Canada.
• Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel (CUAET) (external link): Help for Ukrainians and their family members come to Canada as quickly as possible and to provide them with the ability to work and study while in Canada. The CUAET also gives those who are already in Canada the option to extend their visitor status, work permit or study permit so that they can continue to live and work or study in Canada temporarily.
• Ukraine immigration measures (external link): Extend your stay or restore your status in Canada - Information about how to extend your stay in Canada as a worker, visitor, or student (for Ukrainians already residing in Canada).
• Canada expands settlement support for Ukrainians coming to Canada (external link): News release on federal government’s settlement support for Ukrainian arrivals.
• New partnership to help Ukrainians come to Canada (external link): News release on Ukrainian travel cost funding strategy announcement.
• Jobs for Ukraine webpage (external link): to help connect Ukrainian newcomers with available jobs.
• Ukraine immigration measures: Open work permits for Ukrainians (external link): Explains open work permit eligibility.

Government of Ontario

• Call toll free 1-888-562-4769: a dedicated hotline for Ukrainian families arriving under the new emergency travel authorization.
• Ukrainian newcomers can email ukrainianjobs@ontario.ca (external link) to request job search supports.
• Coming to Ontario from Ukraine (external link): Immigration measures and settlement support for people affected by the conflict in Ukraine, including people who are in Ontario under an emergency authorization.
• Employment Ontario (external link): Find an employment service or training provider in your area to help you find work or training.