COSTI: Funders

Funders

Government of Canada
Government of Ontario
City of Toronto
Regional Municipality of York
Planning for Canada
Toronto Catholic District School Board
United Way Greater Toronto

U.S. Embassy Ottawa
Foundations

Government of Canada

Employment and Social Development Canada

COSTI receives funding from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) through Canada Summer Jobs funds and Enabling Accessibility Fund. Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) works to improve the standard of living and quality of life for all Canadians by promoting a highly skilled labour, and an efficient and inclusive labour market.

Canada Summer Jobs

COSTI is a recipient of the Canada Summer Jobs fund. This federal grant provides funding to help employers create summer job opportunities for full-time students (aged 15 to 30 years) who are intending to return to their studies in the next school year. It is designed to focus on local priorities, while helping both students and their communities.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

COSTI receives funding from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) through the following programs and services: Client Support Services, Community Connections, Information and Orientation, Labour Market Access, Language Training, Orientation to Ontario, Resettlement Assistance Program, and Support Services. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada facilitates the arrival of immigrants, provides protection to refugees, offers programming to help newcomers settle in Canada, grants citizenship, and issues travel documents (such as passports) to Canadians.

Client Support Services

COSTI provides settlement support to Government-Assisted Refugees arriving in the Greater Toronto Area. COSTI's Client Support Services program is funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Community Connections

COSTI helps newcomers in establishing a social and professional network through leadership projects, conversation circles and mentorships.

Information and Orientation

COSTI offers newcomers pre and post-arrival information, including information on housing, employment, language training, education and skills development; enabling them to make informed decisions about their settlement and understanding life in Canada, including laws, rights, responsibilities, and how to access community resources.

Language Training and Labour Market Access

COSTI offers English language classes (including literacy and numeric instruction, and language learning circles) at all levels, language training in the workplace and enhanced language training in administration and customer service, health care, teaching, accounting and finance fields, including workplace terminology, job search and placement.

Orientation to Ontario

COSTI provides newcomers with information about settlement in Ontario and connects them with community services. Orientation to Ontario (O2O) is a joint federal/provincial newcomer orientation program that provides a framework and tools for delivering standardized orientation information on key settlement issues. The objective of the program is to increase early access to information and services to facilitate the settlement process and connect newcomers with appropriate community services and resources soon after arriving in Ontario.

Resettlement Assistance Program

COSTI is a designated provider of the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP). RAP provides immediate and essential services (i.e., reception at port of entry, temporary accommodation, assistance in finding permanent accommodation, basic orientation, and links to settlement programming and federal and provincial programs) to Government-Assisted Refugees (GARs) and other eligible clients who arrive in Canada following an overseas identification and selection process.

Government of Ontario

Ministry of Training, Colleges and Univesities

COSTI receives funding from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities and Employment Ontario through the following programs: Canada-Ontario Job Grant, Employment Services, Youth Job Connection and Youth Job Connection – Summer. The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities directs and shapes Ontario's postsecondary education and employment, and training systems. The ministry ensures that high quality postsecondary education is accessible to all qualified candidates, and manages and funds provincial employment and training programs and services.

Canada-Ontario Job Grant

COSTI is a designated provider of the Canada-Ontario Job Grant (COJG) and offers resources to employers to undertake training and professional development in their workforce at six locations. Funded by the Government of Canada and Province of Ontario, the COJG provides financial support to employers who wish to invest in training for their employees. It is available to small, medium and large businesses with a plan to deliver short-term training to existing and new employees.

Employment Services

COSTI provides employment services at its Employment Service Centres located across the Greater Toronto Area. These services are Employment Ontario programs that provide job-seekers with information, workshops, networking events, online courses and tools to ensure a successful job search.

Youth Job Connection

COSTI is a designated provider of Youth Job Connection and helps youth facing multiple barriers to employment build better futures. The program offers youth at least 60 hours paid training, a job for up to six months, mentorship, job-coaching and help with the transition from school to work, or to ongoing employment once the program ends. Applicants must be 15 to 29 years old, residents of Ontario, unemployed, and not attending full-time school or training.

Youth Job Connection – Summer

COSTI is a designated provider of Youth Job Connection – Summer and provides support to high school students looking for a summer job. The program offers students at least 20 hours paid training, summer jobs for up to 8 weeks (part-time and after-school), mentorship, job-coaching and help to return to school after the program ends. Applicants must be 15 to 18 years old, residents of Ontario, and high school students planning to stay in or return to school, or to move on to postsecondary education.

Ministry of the Attorney General

COSTI receives funding from the Ministry of the Attorney General through the Ontario Victims Services Secretariat.

Ontario Victims Services Secretariat

The Ontario Victim Services Secretariat (OVSS) works to ensure that victims of crime are treated with respect and receive the information and services they need. No one is prepared to become a victim of crime. It is a traumatic and difficult experience. Ontario Victim Services recognizes these hardships and is committed to providing victims with the support and services they need in the communities where they live. Ontario victim Services provides direct services to victims of crime across Ontario and funds community organizations that deliver support services to victims.

The OVSS programs assist victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and hate crime; child victims of sexual abuse and exploitation; and under-served and unserved victims; legal services and financial assistance for families of homicide victims. These programs are designed to support: time-limited initiatives that address gaps in existing service to victims and enhance service quality and accessibility; and one-time community education initiatives that increase awareness of victimization and victims' issues.

Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services

The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services helps to build communities that are resilient, inclusive and sustained by the economic and civic contributions of all Ontarians. The ministry responsibilities fall into the following categories: social assistance, programs for adults with a developmental disability, community services, and child and spousal support orders.

COSTI receives funding from the Ministry through the following programs: Innovative Programming, International Student Connect, Newcomer Settlement Program, Settlement and Integration Services for Refugees and Vulnerable Newcomers, and Orientation to Ontario. The Ministry provides services to help integrate newcomers and refugees, supports not-for-profit community organizations and promotes greater social inclusion, community engagement and recognition among all Ontarians. International Student Connect The International Student Connect Program initiated by the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration to support international students wishing to settle in Ontario, represents an innovative collaboration between settlement service providers and post secondary institutions. The program offers information sessions, workshops and resources on a variety of settlement topics. The workshops and sessions address issues such as features of life in Ontario, accessing local services, consumer awareness, housing and health care. The program is led by COSTI, in partnership with 16 settlement agencies and 18 colleges and universities in 12 Ontario communities: Barrie, Bradford, Chatham, Hamilton, Mississauga, Niagara Region, Orillia, Ottawa, Sarnia, Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay, Toronto, and Windsor.

Newcomer Settlement Program

COSTI assists newcomers at different phases of their settlement process at seven locations. The Newcomer Settlement Program is funded by the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, and its goal is to support the successful settlement and integration of newcomers to Ontario.

The program is delivered by a province-wide network of community-based not-for-profit agencies that assist newcomers in settling and integrating to communities across Ontario. Settlement agencies provide newcomers with information, guidance and support during the settlement process, and connect newcomers to services and resources in the broader community.

Ontario Refugee Resettlement

COSTI provides mental health and employment supports to recently arrived refugees through the Ontario Refugee Resettlement program to support the large-scale resettlement and integration of refugees in Ontario.

Orientation to Ontario

COSTI provides newcomers with information about settlement in Ontario and connects them with community services at seven locations.

Orientation to Ontario (O2O) is a joint federal/provincial newcomer orientation program funded by the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration that provides a framework and tools for providing standardized orientation information on key settlement issues. The objective of the program is to increase early access to information and services to facilitate the settlement process and connect newcomers with appropriate community services and resources soon after arriving in Ontario.

Violence Against Women

COSTI offers counselling and support for women experiencing abuse at two locations. This services are funded by the Ministry of Community and Social Services through the Violence Against Women Program (VAW). VAW funds agencies that provide women, who have experienced violence or abuse and their children, with safe shelter and other support services. Women, aged 16 years or older, who identify themselves as having been sexually, physically or emotionally abused by their partners, or significant others (could include caregiver or other immediate family/household member) and their dependent children are eligible for these services.

Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care

COSTI offers counselling and mental health services for individuals and families and receives funding through the Minister's Addictions Program, Mental Health and Addictions Branch and the Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network.

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care works to establish a patient-focused, results-driven, integrated and sustainable publicly funded health system. Its plan for building a sustainable public health care system in Ontario is based on helping people stay healthy, delivering good care when people need it, and protecting the health system for future generations.

Problem Gambling

COSTI offers appropriate prevention, education, and treatment for gamblers and family members at one location. The Problem Gambling program is funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. The program provides culturally competent treatment to adults 25 years of age and older from the Italian, Spanish and Portuguese-speaking communities; youth 13 to 24 years of age and children seven to 12 years of age are seen as well within the context of family treatment. Prevention activities are provided in partnership with ethno-specific agencies to different communities.

Ministry of Seniors Affairs

COSTI receives funding from the Ministry of Seniors Affairs through the Elderly Persons' Centres funding. COSTI offers educational, physical, recreational and social activities for seniors at its Elderly Persons' Centre located in North York. The services provided at this location are funded by the Ministry of Seniors Affairs through Elderly Persons' Centres funding.

The Elderly Persons' Centres serve as vital community hubs that provide health, social and recreational programs to promote wellness for seniors. The Ministry of Seniors Affairs supports, develops and delivers public services to improve the quality of life for seniors and helps them lead safe, engaged, active and healthy lives.

Ministry of the Status of Women

COSTI receives funding from the Ministry of the Status of Women through the Neighbours, Friends and Families program, and the Women in Skilled Trades and Information Technology program. The Ministry of the Status of Women promotes women's equality with a focus on ending violence against women and increasing women's economic security.

Women in Skilled Trades and Information Technology

COSTI offers a training program for women who have been abused or who are at-risk of abuse at one location and online. The Women of Courage program provides women with support to attain a college certificate in office administration. Combined with group counselling, life skills workshops and job search activities, women are prepared for employment. The program is offered in partnership with Humber College.

Neighbours, Friends and Families

The Neighbours, Friends and Families project is part of the province-wide NFF campaign. The objective of this campaign is to raise public awareness of the signs and risk factors of violence against women, and help individuals close to an at-risk woman or an abusive man offer effective support.

Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport

COSTI receives funding from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport through the Ontario Sport and Recreation Communities Fund (OSRCF). The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport helps build a strong innovative economy in Ontario through strategic support and investment in tourism, culture, and sport and recreation.

Ontario Sport and Recreation Communities Fund

COSTI is a designated recipient of the Ontario Sport and Recreation Communities Fund (OSRCF).

The OSRCF is a federal grant program that supports a vision of getting and keeping Ontarians active in community sport, recreation and physical activity. Through the support of projects that deliver high-quality programs and policies, the OSRCF provides Ontarians with more opportunities to become physically active, including groups who experience barriers to participating and those who are traditionally less active.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation

COSTI receives funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada's largest granting foundations. With a budget of over $136 million, OTF awards grants to some 1,000 projects every year to build healthy and vibrant Ontario communities.

City of Toronto

COSTI offers housing programs and services to individuals and families at its North York Housing Help Centre and refugee newcomers through its shelter services. The North York Housing Help Centre offers a holistic approach to service, providing crisis intervention; housing search support; document and application assistance; individual life skills coaching; direct access to employment, education, and training programs; a Rent Bank; seasonal energy grants (hydro and gas) to prevent disconnection; specialized services for women; and a drop-in program.

Community Services Partnership Program

The Community Services Partnership Program (CSPP) facilitates access to services that improve social outcomes for vulnerable, marginalized and high-risk communities. The programs are designed for vulnerable, marginalized and high-risk communities; clearly identify a social service need of this community and focus on achieving attainable, measurable results, and maximize the capacity-building approach to be effective.

Shelter, Support and Housing

COSTI is contracted by the City of Toronto to provide shelter services for refugee claimants arriving in the City of Toronto.

Ontario Works Employment Programs and Supports

The Ontario Works program provides short-term financial support to eligible individuals, and assists them as they work towards their goal of finding paid employment.

Regional Municipality of York

COSTI's Life Success Strategies program is funded by the York Region through the Community Investment Strategy. The Community Investment Strategy (CIS) provides funding for projects from not-for-profit agencies that deliver services to low and moderate income York Region residents. The selected initiatives must help York Region residents in one of the following areas: community health, economic independence, housing strategy, and social inclusion.

The Regional Municipality of York stretches north from Toronto to Lake Simcoe and includes many hectares of protected Greenbelt. York Region works to provide residents and businesses access to a broad selection of services and resources.

Life Success Strategies

COSTI's Life Success Strategies provides life skills training to residents in York Region who are seeking motivation, life management skills, or career exploration. Over the course of three weeks, participants develop the skills and confidence to better enable them to move forward with their goals and create a plan to obtain sustainable employment.

Transit Ticket Program

COSTI is a designated provider of The Transit Ticket Program. This program provides funding to community agencies to buy transit tickets or passes for client use, and is intended to assist low-income residents who use services at the community.

Planning for Canada

COSTI provides information and referral and initial orientation online to overseas clients to help them prepare for settlement and employment process prior to arrival in Canada.

Planning for Canada is a joint initiative between the Canadian Orientation Abroad (COA) and the Canadian Immigrant Integration Program (CIIP), two pre-arrival service providers. COA and CIIP are implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) respectively and funded by the Government of Canada. Toronto Catholic District School Board

Toronto Catholic District School Board

The Toronto Catholic District School Board is an English language public-separate school board for Toronto.

United Way Greater Toronto

COSTI's Women's programs, Settlement Services, Youth Mentoring, Family and Mental Health programs, Housing programs and seniors' services are funded in part by the United Way Greater Toronto.

COSTI's Women's Employment and Lifeskills Counselling Program – Women Gaining Ground, provides workshops combined with individual counselling for women to improve their self-confidence, develop social networks and increase their employment potential. Located in the Region of Peel, Pathways to Success provides low-income women opportunities to explore self-employment and stabilize their personal and family situation. Women in need of housing support services are provided childminding and travel supports in order to access services.

United Way Greater Toronto is the largest non-governmental supporter of social services in the region, and it's dedicated to creating the opportunities people need to improve their lives and build a better future.

U.S. Embassy Ottawa

COSTI's Refugee Youth Leadership Program is funded by the U.S. Embassay in Ottawa. The Refugee Youth Leadership Program is a two-year program for high-school students in grades 9-12 that will provide after school or weekend English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for newly arrived refugees. The program will also have a leadership training and educational counseling component that will prepare refugee students to succeed in Canadian schools and to serve as mentors for future arriving refugees.

At the end of the two-year program, the students will participate in a visit to the United States centred on leadership development and engagement with community organizations that assist refugees.

Foundations

Toronto Foundation

COSTI receives funding from Toronto Foundation.

With more than 500 endowment funds, and assets of more than $400 million, the Toronto Foundation is one of Canada's largest charitable foundations. The Toronto Foundation connects philanthropy with community needs and opportunities in order to make Toronto the best place to live, work, learn, and grow.

La Fondation Emmanuelle Gattuso

COSTI's Syrian Newcomer Professionals Program is supported by La Fondation Emmanuelle Gattuso. La Fondation Emmanuelle Gattuso supports health care institutions, culture and arts, social services and education.

The Bennett Family Foundation

COSTI receives support from The Bennett Family Foundation to help settle Syrian refugees. The Bennett Family Foundation promotes engaged and healthy communities through innovative, sustainable programs by supporting small and local organizations that address the needs of underserved populations.