Building the Path to Home
Links to sustainable housing
for people with dual diagnosis
Community support services
Community support services fill a social, recreational need and help people to develop a sense of belonging in their community. If a person is housed, but isolated, having a few comfortable places to visit can enrich his or her quality of life.
Individual preferences and comfort levels are important, so try out different places to see where the person can make a connection that is meaningful and welcoming.
Mental health sector
The mental health sector offers several ways to connect with community support services. Many community-based, storefront and drop-in programs welcome people with mental health problems. Some of the strongest supports in the mental health sector are run by consumers of mental health services. There are a number of these in Toronto from drop-in and self-help projects to businesses operated and staffed by consumers of mental health services.
The Making Choices guide lists social and recreational programs that are affiliated with the mental health sector.
211Toronto provides an online directory of community, social, health and government services in Toronto.
Developmental sector
Social programs are available to people living in the community through developmental services. Agencies funded to provide case management services for people with a developmental disability can help you sort through community support options and connect with appropriate social programs.
People who live with their families can contact:
- Family Service Association: 416 971-6326 ext. 224
- Community Living Toronto: 416 968-0650 ext. 2207
- Surrey Place Centre: 416 925-5141 ext. 290 or 233
- Youthlink: 416 967-1773
- COTAHealth: 416 785-9230.
People who live independently can contact:
- Community Living Toronto at 416 968-0650 ext. 2212 or 2209.
Assessment co-ordinators take referrals for the four agencies that provide community support services.
Information about social groups that have been developed by families, community centres or other agencies is available through the agencies in the developmental sector that provide case management services.
- The Supports & Services Resource Handbook has the most complete list of these programs. However, some of these programs may have changed due to lack of support or funding.
- Special Services at Home may also help with making connections to existing developmental sector services (see list of services, p.150).
There are also some national volunteer programs, such as Best Buddies Canada, which connect adults with intellectual disabilities with university students (416 531-0300).
Other resources
Consumer initiatives
Last updated:
Friday, November 2, 2007 5:05 PM
DISCLAIMER: Information on this site is not to be used for diagnosis, treatment or referral services and CAMH does not provide diagnostic, treatment or referral services through the Internet. Individuals should contact their personal physician, and/or their local addiction or mental health agency for further information.