The Ministry of Community and Social Services is working hard to help women and their children live free of domestic violence.
The ministry’s Violence Against Women program is part of a coordinated network of services, which is delivered through 13 government ministries and coordinated by the Ontario Women's Directorate.
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The Assaulted Women's Helpline
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Toll free (Ontario)
1-866-863-0511
1-866-863-7868 TTY
Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
(416) 863-0511
(416) 863-7868 TTY
#SAFE
#7233 on your Bell Mobility phone
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This province-wide helpline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. It offers crisis counseling and referrals for women needing a shelter, legal advice or other supports. This service is free and is available in over 100 different languages, including 17 Aboriginal languages.
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The ministry funds a number of programs and services which are designed to:
- increase the safety of women and their children who are experiencing abuse by providing safe shelter, safety plan development, crisis counseling; and
- by helping them access resources to live free of domestic abuse.
Services and programs include:
- emergency shelter and related services provided by approximately 100 women’s shelters;
- crisis/support services;
- counseling services provided by more than 100 community agencies;
- housing support services;
- transitional support services;
- early intervention services for child witnesses of women’s abuse; and
- a province-wide crisis help line.
The ministry’s Violence Against Women program serves any woman who identifies herself or is identified as having been physically, sexually or emotionally abused by her partner or significant other or those who are adult survivors of sexual assault or woman abuse.
Ontario’s Domestic Action Violence Plan
On December 13, 2004, the Ontario government announced its comprehensive, four-year $66 million Domestic Violence Action Plan to enhance existing programs and services and implement new initiatives. The $68 million plan involves a broad range of partners, both traditional and non-traditional, to more effectively address domestic violence. The Ministry of Community and Social Services is one of 13 Ontario government ministries that is working together to create an ongoing, integrated approach to the plan.