This toolkit contains resources and information which may offer support to organizations, agencies, or frontline staff supporting individuals, during a challenging time.
This toolkit was developed in consultation with community partners, focusing on key issues facing their communities since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you have a resource or would like to submit tips to be included in a future addition, please write to: [email protected].
Managing the cost of goods and paying bills
Budgeting resources
Five different budgeting methods – Prosper Canada
Cash flow budget template – PDF – Prosper Canada
Cash flow budget template – fillable PDF – Prosper Canada
Simple budget template – PDF – Prosper Canada
Simple budget template – fillable PDF – Prosper Canada
Ten ways to trim expenses – Prosper Canada
Ways to save at the grocery store – Prosper Canada
5 budgeting app ideas – Prosper Canada
Tracking spending/bills
Expenses tracking sheet – PDF – Prosper Canada
Expenses tracking sheet – fillable PDF – Prosper Canada
Tracking fluctuating expenses – Prosper Canada
Prioritizing Bills tool – Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
Spending tracker tool – CFPB
Cutting expenses tool – CFPB
Online budgeting tools
Budget Planner (free) – Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC)
Budget Calculator Spreadsheet (downloadable Excel sheet) – MyMoneyCoach.ca
Spending Habits Calculator – GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca
Personal Budgeting Course (no cost) – Momentum
Debt
Action planning
Steps to debt repayment – Prosper Canada
Determining debt payoff order – Prosper Canada
Dealing with debt– Prosper Canada
Making a plan to be debt free– Government of Canada
The 4 cornerstones of debt reduction strategies & budgeting– Credit Counselling Society
Getting out of debt– Credit Counselling Society
Information for consumers on the insolvency process– Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy (available in multiple languages)
More resources
Options you can trust to help with your debt – Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy
1:1 debt counselling – Credit Counselling Canada
Sample letters to creditors – Credit Counselling Society
Ways to build or rebuild credit and manage debt course (no cost) – Momentum
Housing and homelessness
Listing of agencies across Canada that may be able to help – The Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness
211 – United Way Canada
Subsidized housing in ON – Ontario Non-profit Housing Association
Benefits for housing
Housing benefits – Government of Canada
Benefits wayfinder – Prosper Canada
Factsheet: Housing insecure individuals – Government of Canada
Resources for renters
Your rights when being evicted for renovations – Community Legal Education Ontario
Resources for renters facing eviction – Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation
Know your rights: eviction prevention – Canadian Centre for Housing Rights
Know your rights: rental housing basics – Canadian Centre for Housing Rights
Know your rights: record keeping for tenants – Canadian Centre for Housing Rights
Rent-Geared-to-Income Subsidy – City of Toronto
Resources for specific groups
Housing options for seniors – Government of Canada
Toolkit for medical professionals in ON writing disability accommodation letters – Canadian Centre for Housing Rights
Friendship Centres for Indigenous people – National Association of Friendship Centres
Shelters
Housing and shelters – Salvation Army (Canada)
Disaster relief help – Canadian Red Cross (Canada)
Emergency and short-term housing in Ontario – Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (Ontario)
For women facing domestic abuse – Shelter Safe (Canada)
Survivors of domestic violence – CAMH (Toronto)
Shelters – CAMH (Toronto)
Food insecurity
Access to food
Find a food bank – Food Banks Canada
Meals on wheels – Ontario Community Support Association
211 – United Way Canada
Drop-in meal resource list for Toronto – Toronto Drop-in Network
Food exchange – Quest Vancouver
Good food organizations – Community Food Centres Canada
Akwe:go – Wasa-Nabin Student Nutrition Program – Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres
Friendship Centres for Indigenous people – Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres
Understanding food insecurity
Tool for older adults: rate your eating habits! – Older Adult Nutrition Screening
Poverty Screening (Food Insecurity) – Canadian Nutrition Society
