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ASK! Community Information Centre

 
 
 
 

Programs Offered
The following programs operate out of ASK!

ASK! Community Information and Referral Service
Links individuals and families to a wide range of community, government and human services offered in South/Central Etobicoke and Toronto. ASK! also stocks a variety of government application forms, which are available to the general community i.e. OAS, CPP, Trillium Drug, Power of Attorney, etc.

Hours:
Monday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday 1:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
* ASK! is closed Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

Target Population:
Community of Southern Etobicoke

Intake:
* Drop-in or self referral: Call ASK! at 416 252-6471 extension 280 or 281.
* Priority Process and intake procedures for internal LAMP referrals:
In a high need/emergency situation LAMP staff should call to consult with ASK! staff or volunteers at extension 280/281.

Cost:
Free

Legal Information and Advice Clinic
Funded through Legal Aid Ontario, the Clinic provides basic, summary legal information, advice and referral on areas such as Family/Matrimonial Law, Notarization, Power of Attorney, Property, Wills/Estates, Landlord /Tenant, Consumer, Commercial and general legal matters.

Note: Appointments average up to 15 minutes in length. Due to popularity of this service, the clinic often has a waiting period, sometimes from 1 – 3 weeks.

Hours:
Monday: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM - by appointment only

Target Population:
Community of South/Central Etobicoke

Intake:
• Self-Referral by appointment only: Call ASK! at 416 252-6471 extension 280.
* Priority Process and intake procedures for internal LAMP referrals: In a high need/emergency situation call ASK! staff at ext. 280/281.

Languages Available:
Lawyer speaks English, Italian and some Spanish

Cost:
General legal information and advice -Free
Preparation of basic Will or Power of Attorney for individuals on a low income - nominal administration fee.

True Copy/ Commissioner for Taking Affidavits Clinic
Certification of true copies of original documents (i.e. birth certificates, immigration and landing documents, etc.) and basic swearing of affidavits and legal documents.

Hours:
Mondays and Wednesdays: 9:00 AM - 12:00 noon. Clients should call ahead to discuss eligibility.

Note: There are certain periods in March/April and August/September when the ASK! commissioner is on vacation and service is not available. Please call to confirm availability.

Target Population:
Community of South/Central Etobicoke

Intake:
Self-Referral - appointment preferred: Call ASK! at 416 252-6471 extension 280/281 to discuss eligibility and nature of the request to ensure that we are able to provide service and the Commissioner is available.

Priority Process and intake procedures for internal LAMP referrals: In a high need/emergency situation call ASK! staff or volunteer at extension 280/281.

Languages Available:
English. Spanish, Russian and Ukrainian interpretation support can be arranged if clients call ahead.

Cost:
Usually free; however depending upon number of copies and length of document there may be a nominal, administrative charge for copying.

Immigrant Settlement Services for Newcomers to Canada
ASK!'s Settlement Counsellors provide a range of services to support and assist newcomers settle into our Community and Canadian society. Funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Immigrant Settlement and Adaptation Program (ISAP), service includes:

• Information/Orientation
• Referral to Community Services (i.e. housing, English classes, family, employment counselling, health, legal, government, etc.)
• Interpretation and Translation
• Form Filling Assistance
• Informal Counselling
• Advocacy and Support
• Service Bridging
• Small Group Information and Orientation on a variety of topics

Hours:
Monday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday 1:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
* ASK! is closed Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

Target Population:
Recent newcomers to Canada - landed immigrants and convention refugees.

Intake:
Drop-in, self or agency referral: Call the ASK! Settlement Counsellor at 416 252-6471 extension 283 –or ASK! reception at ext. 280/281.

Priority Process and intake procedures for internal LAMP referrals: In a high need/emergency situation call the ASK! Settlement Counsellor at extension 283/280.

Languages Available:
Monday to Friday - ASK! regular hours: English, Russian, Ukrainian and Spanish
Tuesday 2:30 PM - 8 PM: Albanian is also available.

Cost:
Free

Refugee/Community Support Services
ASK!'s refugee/community support workers provide a range of services to support and assist refugees and vulnerable/multi-need clients. Funded by the United Way of Greater Toronto.

* Information and Referral (i.e. housing, legal, English classes, family, employment, health, government, etc.)
* Interpretation and translation
* Form Filling Assistance
* General Orientation and Informal Counselling
* Advocacy and Support.

Hours:
Monday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday 1:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
* ASK! is closed Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

Target Population:
Refugees Claimants and vulnerable/multi-need clients – primarily from South/Central Etobicoke.

Intake:
Drop-in, self or agency referral: Call ASK! Refugee/Community Support Counsellor at 416 252-6471 extension 280/281.

Priority Process and intake procedures for internal LAMP referrals: In a high need/emergency situation call ASK! Refugee/Community Support Counsellor at ext. 280/281.

Languages Available:
Spanish Ukranian/Russian
Monday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday 1:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm 1:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Friday 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm


Cost:
Free

Government Form Filling
ASK! volunteers provide assistance to individuals and families on a low/fixed income in completing basic government forms, i.e. Income Tax, Child Tax Benefit, OAS, Income Supplements Forms, etc.

Note: At certain times of the year there may be a 1 - 3 week wait; please check.

Hours:
Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon - by appointment
(with the exception of March and April each year when the ASK! Income Tax runs)

Target Population:
Community of South/Central Etobicoke

Intake:
Self-Referral by appointment only: Call ASK! at 416 252-6471 extension 280/281.

Priority Process and intake procedures for internal LAMP referrals.

In a high need/emergency situation call ASK! staff at extension 280.

Cost:
Free

Income Tax Clinic
Income Tax preparation assistance for individuals and families who are unable to complete their own returns and who are on a low/fixed income. Service is provided by volunteers. Basic returns only (no business or self employed returns, rental income, capital gains, etc.)

Hours:
Tax Season
March and April– generally Tuesday and Thursdays from 9:00 am - 4 :00 pm, by appointment
Limited number of evening appointments – usually 2 to 3 Tuesday evenings in March

May through February
Wednesday: 9:00 am – 12:00 noon, by appointment.

Target Population:
Low income individuals and families residing in South/Central Etobicoke.

Intake:
Income and Eligibility criteria apply – call to determine eligibility.

Self-Referral by appointment only: Call ASK! at 416 252-6471 extension 280/281.

Priority Process and intake procedures for internal LAMP referrals: In a high need/emergency situation call ASK! staff.

Cost:
Free; however everyone is asked if they would like to make a small donation to support the service. It is stressed that donations are entirely voluntary and based upon what each person can afford.

Emergency Food Bank
Short term, emergency food assistance for individuals and families in financial crisis (non-perishable canned and dry goods only, baby formula, cereal and baby food).
The program is supported through donations of food from Daily Bread, 2nd Harvest, local churches, community groups and organizations, schools, businesses and individuals. Financial donations that enable the program to purchase needed food items are also gratefully accepted and eligible for a tax receipt.

Note: the ASK! Emergency Food Bank serves a specific catchment area (see below).
ASK! will refer individuals who are not in our area to another local, South Etobicoke Food Bank.

Hours - Emergency Food Bank:
Monday Afternoon - By appointment only.
Tuesday 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm - By appointment only.
(Low income individuals/families who are working or going to school only.)
Wednesday Afternoon - By appointment only.


Baby food: High need families can arrange to pick up formula or baby food once a week (subject to availability – good to call ahead to check what is in supply).

Homeless: Can arrange with staff to pick up smaller quantities, usually once a week (generally on a drop-in basis outside of regular Food Bank hours). Speak to staff.

Area Served:
South of Bloor St. to Lake Ontario, west of the Humber River and east of 8th St. (includes residents of 8th St.); also serve Mabelle Housing Project – located between Bloor and Dundas.

Individuals or families living outside this area will be given information about other area food banks.

Intake:
• New - First Time Users:
Preferably by appointment during regular ASK! Food Bank times; however, other arrangements can be made outside these hours for first time users in crisis.
• Repeat ASK! Food Bank Users:
Self-Referral by appointment only: call 416 252-6471 extension 280. Service is generally available once per month.
• Homeless:
Can meet with staff and pre-arrange service on a drop-in, weekly basis.
• Baby Food:
High need families can arrange to pick up formula or baby food up to once a week (subject to availability – good to call ahead to check what is in supply).
• Priority Process and intake procedures for internal LAMP referrals:
In a high need/emergency situation, including clients outside the ASK! Food Bank catchment area, LAMP staff should call ASK! staff to discuss each situation on an individual basis.

Cost:
Free

Other:
Daily Bread Food Delivery - every other Thursday morning at approximately 9:00 AM.

ASK! always needs and appreciates help in unloading and carrying in the food to ASK! on these mornings. Reception pages the building when the truck has arrived. Meet at South Parking lot door.

Donations of food, money to purchase items in short supply, and clean grocery bags are always in demand and much appreciated.

Ontario Works - Information Clinic (Social Assistance/Welfare)
An Ontario Works liaison worker from our Queensway area office is available at ASK! every other Friday morning to answer questions or assist with Ontario Works problems.
Please note: Etobicoke individuals or families who want or need to apply for social assistance should call Ontario Works Intake at 416-397-0330 directly ( or if using a pay phone call 1-888-465-4478). Applications for assistance are not taken at ASK!

Hours:
Every other Friday morning: 9:00 AM – 12:00 noon. Check LAMP calendar or call to confirm dates and attendance.

Intake:
Self-referral, by appointment or drop-in: Call ASK! 416 252-6471 extension 280/281.

Priority Process and intake procedures for internal LAMP referrals: In a high need/emergency situation call ASK! staff or call the OW intake number listed.

Cost:
N/A

Volunteers Etobicoke (Volunteer Centre of Toronto)
The Volunteer Centre - Etobicoke Branch will be changing locations from LAMP to JobStart early in the New Year. The Jobstart office location is at Islington/Lakeshore.
People wishing to have interviews there should register their appointments at: 416-961-6888.

CAP - Community Access Program
The Community Access Program offers computer and Internet Access throughout the week to members of the community. One on one assistance and regular, introductory classes are available. It is funded by Industry Canada and community donations.

Hours:
Computer Access: Classes:
Monday: 9:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday: 2:00pm - 7:30pm
Wednesday: 9:30am - 12:30pm
Thursday: 9:30 am - 2:00pm
Friday: 12:00pm - 4:30pm 		Offered on a regular basis. Please ask for current schedule. Call ASK! 416 252-6471 extension 280/281.

Intake:
Any member of the community may use the CAP computers. You may book the computers for 1 hour a day up to two weeks in advance. (In person only). If the computers are not in use you may continue to use them.

Cost:
Free 


LAMP Community Health Centre
185 Fifth Street, Etobicoke, ON, Canada, M8V-2Z5
phone: (416) 252-6471    fax: (416) 252-4474    TTY: 416- 252-1322
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