Willowdale Community Legal Services
245 Fairview Mall Dr # 106 M2J 4T1 Toronto, ON, Canada

Extra Support for Parents and Guardians due to COVID-19 You can get financial support to help with additional costs during the 2020-2021 school year due to COVID-19. You must submit a separate application for each child. We will only accept one application per child. Eligible parents or guardians will receive a one-time payment of:... $200 for each child up to age 12 $250 for each child or youth up to age 21 with special needs The deadline to apply is January 15, 2021 https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-support-learners See more

MPP Suze Morrison, the critic for Tenant Rights, will be forcing a vote on a motion to reinstate the eviction ban next week on December 9th. Please take action to show support for this motion. 1. Call and email the Premier and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Ask them to stop COVID evictions. Premier Doug Ford 416-325-1941... [email protected] Hon. Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing 416-585-7000 [email protected] 2. Tell your friends and family to contact their local MPP and tell them to vote for MPP Morrison's motion to Stop COVID evictions Find your local MPP Here. 3. Sign the petition below to call on the provincial government to reinstate the moratorium on evictions and prohibit evictions for the nonpayment of rent for the period of the COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.suzemorrison.ca/nocovidevictions Please circulate the petition widely.

Information for Residents in Residential Buildings https://www.toronto.ca//8fe5-COVID19-Fact-Sheet-Residentia

https://www.toronto.ca//covid-19-reopening-information-f/

Online mental health supports 1. SOCIAL ASSISTANCE MENTAL WELLNESS INITIATIVE: Ontario Works On-Line Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Program This program provides Ontario Works clients with access to free internet-based Cognitive Behavioural therapy (where the client would then connect with a therapist through text, phone, virtual means). ... Registration: If you are on OW and are interested in finding out about this program, you can contact your TESS caseworker and ask about the 'Mental Wellness Initiative'. You would then receive an email from the mental health provider who will provide an assessment, assist with registration and then share next steps. 2. MINDBEACON: Provincial On-Line Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Program (Computer needed) The provincial government has launched a free program to help support people with their mental health, specifically depression, anxiety, PTSD, insomnia, panic disorder, and health anxiety. To determine whether you qualify you must first complete a 20-minute assessment and then (according to the website) a therapist will touch base to discuss next steps: https://info.mindbeacon.com/btn542 Registration: Direct link to Initial Assessment: https://info.mindbeacon.com/btn542 1. Scroll down the page about 2/3 of the way 2. Click on the yellow button that says Start My Assessment 3. You will be asked to register a new account with the website 3. BOUNCE BACK: Self-Guided Mental Health Support (Phone or computer needed) BounceBack is a free, guided self-help program that’s effective in helping people aged 15 and up who are experiencing mild-to-moderate anxiety or depression, or may be feeling low, stressed, worried, irritable or angry. Participants receive telephone coaching, skill-building workbooks and online videos to help them overcome these symptoms and gain new skills to regain positive mental health. To receive telephone coaching support, clients must either be referred by their primary care provider (family doctor, nurse practitioner) or psychiatrist, or they may self-refer as long as they’re connected with a primary care provider. Registration: Self-referral form (direct link to apply): https://ocean.cognisantmd.com/intake/IntakePortal.html 1. Check I am an individual who is interested in applying for the BounceBack Program. 2. Make sure to include your family doctor’s contact information in the appropriate section 3. Once submitted, it will be reviewed by a coach who should contact you within 5 business days with their recommendations 4. If you have not heard back within 5 business days, you can follow up by contacting them: o [email protected] o Local: 905-430-1768

We are having technical issues with our telephone system. You can reach us at 416-492-2438 or by email at [email protected] You can also submit an online intake form at https://www.willowdalelegal.com/ and we will call you back within 2 working days.

Join Zoom Meeting: tinyurl.com/WCLSAGM Meeting ID: 961 3991 4762 Annual report 2019 - 2020 https://8cb93393-346c-49a0-bc63-3c7421640da8.filesusr.com/