Newcomer Settlement

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada funds the YMCA of Southwestern Ontario to provide newcomer settlement services. Settlement advisors support newcomers to Canada as they settle.

If you are a newcomer to Canada, you can get FREE settlement services. Please call the Newcomer Settlement Advisor for Huron County to make an appointment:

Firas Sefian
Email: firas.sefian@swo.ymca.ca
Phone: 226-973-7572

New to Canada | YMCA SWO

Getting settled in Huron County

Settlement Services

If you are a newcomer to Canada, you can get free settlement services. Please call the Newcomer Settlement Advisor for Huron County to make an appointment at 226-973-7572.

Newcomer Settlement Advisors can connect you to the resources and information you need to feel established in your new home in Huron County. They can assist and provide advice in areas of:

  • Government services
  • Immigration
  • English classes
  • Social supports
  • Employment
  • Healthcare
  • Education
  • Housing
  • Daily life needs

Based on your unique needs and strengths, Newcomer Settlement Advisors will help build a personalised plan for you and your family to help achieve your own unique goals.

Information sessions and support groups are also organized every month to help you become more independent in Canada.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada funds the YMCA of Southwestern Ontario to provide newcomer settlement services. Settlement advisors support newcomers to Canada as they settle.

Accessibility
Finding a Home

Housing for Newcomers
www.cmhc.ca/newcomers

Housing – Finding a place to live
www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/

Financial Support

Emergency Assistance

  • To find out how to receive support, visit the website here or call 1-888-789-4199
    • Support description:
      • Learn how to get short term financial support if you are in a crisis or an emergency and don’t have enough money for things like food and housing
      • Ukrainians in Ontario under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel pathway may apply for temporary financial support through emergency assistance

 

Discretionary Benefits

  • Ontario Works, 77722D London Road, Clinton ON
    • To find out how to receive support, visit the website here or call 519-482-8505
      • Support description:
        • Financial assistance includes funds to cover food, shelter, clothing and other household items for people who have no other means of support. The province sets the benefit rates
        • Discretionary benefits are available to those who are in receipt of Emergency Assistance and includes health related and emergency assistance items
        • Apply through the Pathways to Self-Sufficiency application form
        • Depending on what item you are requesting, Pathways may pay up to $750 per calendar year for rent, heat or housing or up to $500 per calendar year for health-related items

 

Child Care Fee Subsidy Program

  • To find out how to receive support, visit the website here or call 519-482-8505
    • Support description:
      • The Child Care Fee Subsidy Program supports eligible families with the cost of child care expenses

 

Homeless Prevention and Housing

  • Housing Services, 77722D London Road, Clinton ON
    • To find out how to receive support, visit the website here or call 519-482-8505
      • Support description:
        • The County of Huron provides supports for housing and to prevent and divert households from experiencing homelessness

 

Sports and Recreation

  • To find out how to receive support, visit the website here or call Nick Hext at 519-336-5950 ext 5523
    • Support description:
      • Up to $800 per child annually to support in participating in recreation, sports and arts programming, in partnership with YMCA Southwestern Ontario

 

Huron Area Newcomer Fund

  • To find out how to receive support, visit the website here
    • Support description:
      • Up to $1,500 per family for people living in Canada during their first 18 months in the country
      • Funds are available for emergency and/or unforeseen expenses

 

Healthy Smiles

Household Supports

Available supports include food, clothing, household supplies and school supplies

Temporary food, courtesy of donations, is available for people who need assistance. The following locations regularly distribute food and other goods:

Bayfield

Clinton

  • Friends of the Community Food Bank & Resource Centre, 9 Rattenbury St, Clinton ON
    • To find out how to receive support, contact Betty Cameron, Director at 519-955-1809 or by email at bettycameron35@gmail.com
    • What they do:
      • Provide food
  • The Salvation Army, 32 Albert St, Clinton ON
    • To find out how to receive support, contact Katryna Dykstra, Program Services Worker at 519-482-8586 or by email at dykstra@salvationarmy.ca
    • What they do:
      • Provide food
      • Offer emergency transportation
      • Support one-time emergency medicine costs
      • Offer emergency accommodations in certain situations for 1 to 2 nights maximum
      • Provide clothing and household items for those in need
      • Refer clients to additional resources at other organizations

Exeter

Goderich

  • The Salvation Army, 303 Suncoast Drive East, Goderich ON
    • To find out how to receive support, visit the website here or call 519-524-4188
    • What they do:
      • Provide food
      • Offer emergency transportation
      • Support one-time emergency medicine costs
      • Offer emergency rent and utility assistance
      • Offer emergency accommodations in certain situations for 1 to 2 nights maximum
      • Provide clothing and household items for those in need
      • Refer clients to additional resources at other organizations
  • Fishes and Loaves Goderich
    • To find out more information on how to receive support, contact Trinity Christian Reformed Church at 519-524-8003
    • What they do:
      • Provide a hot take-home meal once a week

Seaforth

  • Seaforth & District Food Bank, 72 Main St, Seaforth ON
    • To find out how to receive support, contact the office at 519-527-0281 or by email at c4thfoodbank@gmail.com
    • What they do:
      • Provide food

Wingham

  • The Salvation Army, 205 Josephine St, Wingham ON
    • To find out how to receive support, contact Debra Morrison, Coordinator at 519-357-1387 or by email at morrison@salvationarmy.ca
    • What they do:
      • Provide food
      • Offer transportation
      • Emergency accommodations

Zurich

Health Resources
Legal Support

Community Legal Education Ontario
(CLEO)
www.cleo.on.ca

Community Support for Families
519.482.3557
www.clch.ca

Huron/Perth Legal Clinic
519.524.4406 or 1.866.867.1027
www.huronperthlegalclinic.ca

Translation & Interpretation

If you require translation or interpretation services, Huron County is served by the following organizations:

Education
Learning English

The Centres for Employment and Learning offer English language classes for newcomer. Please visit:

www.thecentreforemploymentandlearning.ca/english-as-a-second-language

Local Huron County Library branches also have resources for learn English and some host conversation circles. Visit your local library and ask about their English resources and programs:

www.huroncounty.ca/library/about/branch-locations

Contact North offers a variety of online learning courses, including English. Staff can answer your questions about programs and courses, help you register and other services.

studyonline.ca/student-services/online-learning-centres/clinton-0

Becoming a Canadian Citizen

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada facilitates the arrival of immigrants, provides protection to refugees, and offers programming to help newcomers settle in Canada. It also grants citizenship and issues travel documents.

Organizations Supporting Health & Well Being
Children's Programs & Support
Technology

Free Computers to Use:

Free WiFi:

  • Huron County Libraries
    Bayfield 519.565.2886
    Blyth 519.523.4400
    Brussels 518.887.6448
    Clinton 519.482.3673
    Exeter 519.235.1890
    Goderich 519.524.9261
    Hensall 519.262.2445
    Seaforth 519.527.1430
    Wingham 519.357.3312
    Zurich 519.236.4965
  • Maitland Recreation Centre (Goderich)
    519.524.2125
  • Downtown Core Goderich
    519.440.0871
  • Bayfield Community Centre
    519-565-2121
  • Hensall Community Centre
  • Zurich Community Centre
    519-236-4969

Fax:

Program to Obtain Free or Subsidised Computers:

Photocopying:

Service Ontario

Service Ontario delivers many services on behalf of the Ontario government such as:

  • Health card (OHIP) registration
  • Birth, marriage and death certificates
  • Driver and vehicle licensing
  • Business registration
  • Fishing and hunting licenses
  • Address change
  • Newborn Registration Service
Service Canada

Service Canada offers access to a wide range of Government of Canada programs and services for citizens such as:

Free Tax Clinics

If you have a modest income, volunteers can prepare your tax return for you. For more information contact www.canada.ca/taxes-help or 1-800-959-8281

911 Health Resources (in many languages)

English

French

Spanish

Thai

Tagalog

Arabic

Vietnamese

How Can We Help?

Huron County Immigration Partnership is always excited to support newcomers to Huron County. Let us know how we can help!

Find Us

57 Napier Street,
Goderich, ON
N7A 1W2
Canada

Phone

+1 (519) 524-8394 ext.6

Email

home@huroncounty.ca