Community Resources & 211

Before you start

Anyone looking for community information, including newcomers and long-established residents. Eligibility is decided by each referred program, not by this website.

• Have your city or general area ready so the navigator can find nearby options. You do not have to provide your name or personal details simply to ask 211 for information.
• Describe the practical need and urgency: food this week, housing information, employment support or help understanding a service. You do not need to know the program’s official name.
• Ask for your preferred language or communication method. 211 lists regional phone, web, chat and text options; languages, hours and channels vary locally.

Program rules: 211 Canada / United Way Centraide Canada. Preparation questions are suggestions, not extra eligibility requirements.

Steps

1. Call 2-1-1

   2-1-1 is a free, confidential phone service available across Canada that connects you to community, social, and government services. It is answered by trained information and referral specialists and is available in many languages.
2. Search the 211 online directory

   You can also search services online at 211.ca. The directory covers food banks, shelters, mental health, settlement agencies, newcomer services, and more, filtered by your city or postal code.
3. Use it for non-emergency help

   Call 2-1-1 for help finding a food bank, low-cost housing, settlement services, mental health support, or government forms. For emergencies, call 9-1-1; for health advice, call 8-1-1 where available.
4. Find a local settlement agency

   IRCC’s finder lists funded settlement providers outside Quebec. Confirm eligibility, including current time limits, with the provider. If you are not eligible, ask 211 about provincial, municipal or community alternatives. A referral is not a promise of acceptance into a program.
5. Keep emergency numbers handy

   9-1-1 for police, fire, or medical emergencies. 2-1-1 for community and social services. 8-1-1 for health advice in provinces that offer it. Poison control and local crisis lines vary — ask 2-1-1.

What to expect—and where people get stuck

211 is a free, confidential information and referral service. It does not itself approve benefits, reserve housing or guarantee a food-bank appointment. Confirm hours, eligibility and availability directly with the referred provider.

Write down the agency name, official contact information and what to prepare. If a referral is closed or cannot help, contact 211 again and explain the obstacle so you can explore alternatives.

For an immediate life-threatening emergency, call 911 rather than waiting for a directory referral. For non-emergency health advice, check your province’s service; this site does not assess medical urgency.