Getting Help
IN MONTREAL

Legal Aid Free legal counsel and representation for criminal, youth and some civil cases for individuals on welfare or with incomes around $165/week or less. Also low-cost legal services for those slightly less poor. 864-2111

McGill Legal Information Clinic Law students will provide free legal information to the general public, including referrals to legal aid or low-cost lawyers. 3480 McTavish B-12 (basement of Student Union Building), 398-6792

Concordia Legal Information Service Law students, supervised by a lawyer, provide free legal information to Concordia students, staff and faculty only. Call to get an appointment, no legal information given over the phone. 7141 Sherbrooke W. AD-131, 848-4960

Head & Hands Lawyer available to advise-for free-members of general public on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Under 25s call to make an appointment for a different time. 2304 Old Orchard, 481-0277 or 481-3643

Inform’Elle Telephone information concerning family law, services of mediation, divorce and alimony. Mon–Fri 9am–4:15pm, (450) 443-8221

Commission des droits de la personne du Québec The Quebec Human Rights Commission. To report incidents of discrimination or sexual harassment. Mon–Fri 8:30am–4:30pm, 873-5146

Groupe d’aide et d’information sur le harcèlement sexuel au travail The only one of its kind in Canada. Free support to men and women who have been victims of sexual harassment at work. Will file complaints in your name with the Quebec Human Rights Commission, keep you company if it goes to criminal court, help with EI problems. Support groups (must be a client). 2231 Belanger, 526-0789

Ligue des droits et libertés Very helpful non-affiliated advocate of human rights. Strengths are First Nations’ rights and racism, social justice, international law and immigration. 65 Castelnau W. #301, 849-7717

Alerte Centre-Sud Coalition of different social support groups. 1710 Beaudry, 521-0467
Alliance for the Mentally Ill (AMI) Support groups for people with mental illnesses and their families. 5253 Décarie #150, 486-1448

Auberge Transition Shelter for women and children who are victims of conjugal abuse. Up to six-week stays. Counselling, child-care and follow-up services. 24-hour crisis centre. 481-0495

CHOC Centre for violent men. Provides sensitization and group therapy with the aim of stopping all forms of conjugal violence. 25 Lévesque E., Laval, (450) 975-2462

Face à Face Listening and referral service. Also has a welfare bank for the homeless and self-help classes. Anonymous, no appointment necessary. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. 3465 Côte-des-Neiges, 934-4546
Gambling: help and referral 24-hour help line operated by the Information and Referral Centre of Greater Montreal, 527-0140

Jeunesse j’écoute/Kids’ help phone 24-hour national bilingual counselling and information service. Confidential and free, age 19 and younger. Unfortunately, very hard to reach. 1-800-668-6868

Parents Line Offers a listening service for parents having trouble dealing with their children. They can also refer you to support groups in your area. 24 hours, seven days a week. 288-5555

Missing Children’s Network They’ll help you find kids who have run away or disappeared. 843-4333

My Brother’s Keeper Across-the-board consultation in many fields, such as education, jobs and human relations. 855-1927

One-Parent Family Organization Support, public speaking and other activities. 334-5918

Option A help service for violent partners. Provides counselling; first step is group counselling, then possibly couple or family therapy. 527-1657

Suicide Action Montreal Hotline for suicide intervention, referrals and support group for those who have lost someone to suicide. Usually bilingual. 723-4000

Tel-Aide Confidential listeners. Staffed by volunteers, so if there’s no one there who speaks English, they will refer you to the next shift or try to find someone to help you. 935-1101

Tel-Jeunes Hotline for under-20 year olds. Professional counsellors. Open 24 hours. 288-2266

Trêves pour elle Listening service and crisis line for women who are victims of sexual assault. Individual and group follow-up. French only. Open 9am–5pm, Mon–Fri. 251-0323

Alcoholics Anonymous Mon–Fri 9am–4:30pm. 1480 Belanger #101, 376-9230

Centre Dollard-Cormier Rehab for drug, alcohol and medication addictions. 950 Louvaine, 385-0046

Cocaine Anonymous Support groups for friends and family of people addicted to behaviour-altering substances. Meetings seven days a week. 527-9999

Douglas Hospital Eating Disorder Clinic In- and out-patient services for adult anorexics and bulimics. Referrals necessary. Mon–Fri, 8:30am–4:30pm. 6605 Lasalle, 761-6131 ext. 2895

Gamblers’ Anonymous Listening service as well as referrals. 484-6666

Narcotics Anonymous A fellowship of men and women helping each other stay clean. For info on meetings, committees and other services call 490-0333

Nicotine Anonymous A support group for people who want to quit using tobacco and nicotine. Weekly meetings. 849-0131

Overeaters Anonymous Helps those with eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, compulsive overeating). Call for the resource person nearest you. 488-1812

Portage Rehab Centre Residential care, parent-and-child program. Treatment for addicted adolescents and pregnant women. Daycare centre. 1640 St-Antoine W., 939-0202

TRASH Volunteers help people kick heroin using “natural methods.” 278-7274

ACTION Operated by the Montreal Assault Prevention Centre. Travelling women’s self-defence course, 12–15 hours, based on wendo. Taught by women instructors. Call 284-1212

Centre des femmes de Montréal Open Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm (Tue nights open ‘till 9pm) Courses with an emphasis on verbal as well as physical skills. They also offer assertiveness training in English and French. 3585 St-Urbain, 842-1066

Also see anti-poverty group listings

Accueil Bonneau Food and clothes. Food: Mon–Fri 9:30–11:15am, 2–3:15pm. Sat 9:30–11:30am, and sandwiches offered after a mass on Sunday. Clothes are available for people with social assistance cards. 427 de la Commune E., 845-3906 or 845-6009

Chez mes amis A volunteer-run service that provides $2 meals to low-income people. There are three meals a day, seven days a week. Integration is emphasized, so the public is encouraged to visit and pay what you can for good homemade food. 5942 Sherbrooke W., 482-2210

Mile-End Community Mission (see Welfare/EI)

NDG Food Depot Food and a referral and advice service. Mon 5–7pm, Wed & Fri 10am–2pm. 2121 Oxford, 483-4680

Old Brewery Mission Supper from 5–5:30pm after the 15th of the month and on Sundays. An emergency shelter. Walk in anytime from 6:30–9pm. 915 Clark, 278-5363

Sun Youth Food and clothes, as well as many social services. Mon–Fri 8am–5pm. 4251 St-Urbain, 842-6822

Living : Housing | Government subsidized housing | Co-ops | Tenant’s rights | Other housing groups | Other useful numbers

Working : Finding a job | CV Creation and Copy Centres | Keeping a job | Welfare/EI

Getting Around : Transportation | Buses | Trains | Planes | Automobiles | Cycling

Eating :

GROCERIES : Markets | Health food stores | Ethnic foods | Late-night groceries

RESTOS : Cheap Eats | Vegetarian Restos | Study-friendly cafés | Cybercafés | All-night & late-night eats

Shopping : Low-budget clothes | Low-budget furniture | Books | Magazines/Newspapers | CDs/Records | Instruments & sheet music

Time Out : Repertory cinemas | Video stores | Pool halls | Bowling alleys

Services & Health Care : Emergency numbers | CLSCs | Dentistry clinics | Pregnancy & parenting | HIV/AIDS

Getting Help : Legal | Discrimination | Support lines & groups | Addiction | Self-defence for women | Food banks

Digital on the cheap : How to get a computer into your life without losing your shirt

DIY ISP : Save money by sharing your Internet

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