Victim services
ShelterSafe.ca
Sheltersafe.ca is an online resource for women and their children seeking safety from violence and abuse. It has an interactive map that can show you which shelters are closest to you, with their telephone numbers.
Website: sheltersafe.ca
Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses
This is an Ontario coalition of emergency shelters for women who have been abused and their children,
second-stage housing programs, and community-based women’s service organizations. The website has links to resources and to people who work with women who have experienced family violence.
Website: oaith.ca
Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres
This is a network of 26 community-based sexual assault centres across Ontario. They provide counselling, information, support services, and referrals to people who have experienced sexual violence. The website lists the centres, and has resources for victims of sexual violence.
Website: sexualassaultsupport.ca
Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC)
The OFIFC is an organization that represents Friendship Centres across Ontario. Friendship Centres serve the needs of Indigenous people by providing culturally sensitive and culturally appropriate services. Some Friendship Centres have programs that provide crisis intervention and peer counselling to community members who are affected by violence.
The website lists contact information for Friendship Centres across Ontario.
Toll-free: 1-800-772-9291
Toronto area: 416-956-7575
Website: ofifc.org
Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/ Domestic Violence Treatment Centres
This is a network of hospital-based centres that provide care to women, children, and men who have recently been sexually assaulted or experienced family violence.
There are 35 of these centres in Ontario. Services include emergency medical and nursing care, crisis intervention, forensic evidence collection, medical follow-up, and counselling. The website lists centres throughout Ontario and referral information.
Website: sadvtreatmentcentres.ca
Ontario Victim Services
The Ontario government has a Victim Services Directory (VSD) that helps abuse victims find programs and services in their communities. You can also talk to an information and referral counsellor by calling the Victim Support Line (VSL).
Toll-free (VSL): 1-888-579-2888
Toronto area (VSL): 416-314-2447
Website (VSD): ovss.findhelp.ca
Some of the programs funded by the Ontario government include:
- The Victim Crisis Assistance Ontario’s (VCAO) services include being at the crime scene with the police to provide crisis support, safety planning, and referrals to counselling. See Are there other options that protect me?
- The Victim Quick Response Program + may pay for certain expenses if you have been a victim of a violent crime in Ontario. This includes sexual assault and family violence. See Compensation for victims of crime.
- Victim/Witness Assistance Program (VWAP) provides information and support through the criminal court process to victims and witnesses of crime. It is available in all 54 court districts in Ontario. See Will someone help me if my partner is charged?