Find an Advocate

The Poverty Law Advocacy Program was created by Sylvia Lane 13 years ago, the program is now run by Melody Blaney. Our Legal Program enables the Women's Society to provide free advocacy, representation, and assistance to low-income women and men. We offer guidance and support in Employment Insurance, BC Benefits, PWD, CPP, CPP-D, FMEP, Tenancy Act, WCB & Labour Board, Mental Health, Income Assistance, and Referral Services.

IDHHC offers support to Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals and their families, including self-advocacy instruction, information and support to access government services, and employment assistance. **TTY:** 250-753-0977 --- *Victoria Office* Address: [301 – 3960 Quadra Street, Victoria, BC](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Island+Deaf+and+Hard+Of+Hearing+Centre) Email: [nanaimo@idhhc.ca](mailto:nanaimo@idhhc.ca) Voice: [(250) 753-0999](tel:1-250-753-0999)

Through advocacy, support, and human rights education, we assist people who have experienced discrimination. Some ways we achieve this are: -Communicating with police, government, organizations, corporations, or other individuals on a client's behalf -Assisting individuals to access information regarding their human rights -Preparation, support, and assistance in filing human rights complaints with the BC Human Rights Tribunal and the Canadian Human Rights Commission VIHRC is able to work within the parameters of the BC Human Rights Code. Please visit our page on human rights law to learn more about the Code and what constitutes a human rights complaint. VIHRC provides services in both official languages.

We offer various services to help seniors, families of seniors, new immigrants and temporary residents who need assistance. Tonari Gumi is also an information referral resource and Japanese language-based assistance Services include: -Seniors Assistance -Applications and Forms Assistance -Escort service to hospital, medical appointments -Problem solving assistance -Information and referral -Seniors housing counseling. Address; 101-42 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Y 1M7 Hours: Mon - Fri 10:00am - 4:00pm

MOSAIC’s Legal Advocacy Program provides information, summary advice, referrals, and legal representation to low-income immigrants and refugees. We help newcomers navigate the Canadian legal system and understand their legal rights and responsibilities. Areas of Support: Family law Employment law Housing law

The goal of the Poverty Law program is to ensure fair access to income support and services through information, referrals, supports and one-on-one advocacy in the following areas: Income assistance Housing Federal Income benefits Public Legal Education (PLE) Resource and referrals The advocate will work directly with clients to educate them about their legal rights, explain options for legal problem solving and, where appropriate, assist with dispute resolution and/or representation at hearings before boards and tribunals. The advocate will also promote awareness of the legal advocacy program and its activities. The program aligns with our core mission to assist individuals and families to enhance their lives through the provision of information, programs, and services.

The Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness Society (ACEH) is a non-profit, registered charity and housing provider whose sole focus is to support Indigenous peoples experiencing homelessness. The work of the ACEH is centered on the voices of Aboriginal peoples who have shared their immediate needs, lived experiences, and perspectives on solutions. Through building partnerships locally and island-wide, the ACEH works to identify and address systemic and structural barriers, share information, resources, and lessons learned, while also providing cultural supports, connections, and housing stability. Our mission is to lovingly provide culturally supportive housing, affordable housing and services that end Aboriginal homelessness on Vancouver Island. The role of the ACEH is critical because there is not another Indigenous led organization on Vancouver Island that has ending Indigenous homelessness as its sole focus. The ACEH has a vision to lead long-term systemic change to better meet the needs of our people living away from home and experiencing homelessness. Our way is to care, for all of our people, from the youngest to the oldest. We are all one. Some of our people living away from home are suffering, isolated and homeless. We stand together to end homelessness.

SIP assists new immigrants and refugees to settle in Canada by providing orientation to their new communities as well as guidance and support to access necessary government and community services. Services are offered in: English, Spanish, Mandarin, Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Somali, Arabic, Kurdish, Farsi/Dari, Pashto, Turkish and Ukrainian. Address: **Primary Location** [13520 - 78th Avenue Surrey, BC V3W 8J6](https://www.google.ca/maps/place/13520+78+Ave,+Surrey,+BC+V3W+8J6/@49.1441252,-122.8504687,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x5485d98783c5b6a7:0xbd38c34ce3e37416!8m2!3d49.1441252!4d-122.84828)

Provides general advocacy services and operates a shelter.

## Our Legal Advocates provide support for issues involving poverty and family law. * [Poverty Law Advocacy Program](https://sharesociety.ca/legal-advocacy#pane-A) * [Family Law Advocacy Program](https://sharesociety.ca/legal-advocacy#pane-B)

SARA’s Outreach program in the Abbotsford and Mission area provides free and confidential support to women (and their dependent children) who have experienced, or are at risk of, abuse, threats or violence. It is available to women of all ethnic backgrounds who need information, advocacy, support, or accompaniment to access community and/or government agencies. Offering: Aboriginal Women’s Support Referral Support to other agencies Individual or group support in both English and Punjabi language Punjabi Speaking staff-bridging language barriers Pregnancy Outreach Support in securing safe housing (Transition and BC Housing) Legal Advocacy and Accompaniment (support with family law issues/applying for Legal Aid, and support in accessing victim services) Support with applying for Financial Assistance (Income Assistance, Rental Assistance and Child Care Subsidy) Support with case conferences with Ministry of Children and Families Development

The Prince George Community Legal Clinic (CLC) along with the Prince George Urban Aboriginal Justice Society (PGUAJS) are pleased to announce the re-opening of the CLC in our new home with PGUAJS. The clinic is staffed full-time by a Supervising Lawyer, a Legal Advocate, as well as our Program Administrator. Our team is eager and excited to be able to provide pro-bono legal services in our community, in response to the lack of access to justice for low-income individuals.

We work to promote and advance access to justice for migrant workers by providing legal services, advocacy, research, public education and engaging in law and policy reform initiatives. Provides legal services and advocacy on immigration law, employment law, labour exploitation and trafficking, and workplace sexual harassment.

The Law Advocacy Program offers free advocacy support and assistance to financially restricted individuals and families in Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton. We offer public education, information, guidance and support during mediations in areas such as human rights disputes, tenancy disputes, and formal appeals for Income Assistance Benefits and referral services. We also work closely with community service providers. Please connect with advocate to make an appointment for Whistler or Pemberton. #### Main Office, Squamish 38024 Fourth Avenue, Box 949 Squamish V8B 0A7- ([see map](https://goo.gl/maps/MuVYQubKNBJb4Fqd9)) **Office hours:** Monday to Friday | 8:30am – 4:30pm Saturday | 8:30am – 12:30pm (closed on long weekends) [admin@sscs](mailto:admin@sscs.ca)[.ca,](mailto:admin@sscs.ca) 604 892 5796, Fax: 604 892 2267 #### Main Office, Pemberton 1357 Aster Street, Box 656 Pemberton, BC V0N 2L0 ([see map](https://www.google.ca/maps/place/1357+Aster+St,+Pemberton,+BC+V0N+2L0/@50.3213043,-122.8118886,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x548735bd3f6ac1c7:0x867cc1dae1580e3e)) **Office hours:** Monday to Friday | 10:00am – 3:00pm (closed 12:00 – 1:00pm for lunch) [pemberton@sscs.ca, ](mailto:pemberton@sscs.ca)604 894 6101, Fax: 604 894 6333

We work with families considering separation, separated caregivers, parents, grandparents or other family members seeking custody, very young parents; and families who are involved with the Ministry for Child and Family Development. We can assist you in setting reasonable goals and in navigating the court systems to obtain a legal solution. The Family Law Legal Advocacy Program provides free assistance to anyone with family law issues or questions. It’s important to note that services are offered by a legal advocate, not a lawyer. We provide information, referral, advocacy, court support, and assistance with legal form completion; in the following areas, so that community members can develop a plan to move forward: • Parental arrangements, children’s rights, child protection • Child or spousal support • Separation and divorce, guardianship • Protection orders • Family Maintenance Enforcement and Protection (FMEP) 1600 - 3rd Avenue (3rd Floor), Prince George, BC V2L 3G6 Phone (250) 564-4324 Fax (250) 614-7728 Mon, Tues, Wed and Fri 9:00am - to 12:00pm & 1:00pm to 4:30pm Thursdays 9:00am to Noon Closed Weekends and Statutory Holidays

Our Support Services program operates under a strength-based and harm reduction philosophy. We understand the importance of providing non-judgmental services and building upon the strengths and experiences of sex workers. We provide one-on-one support to Sex Workers to address their immediate needs, while helping them in meeting long-term goals. Our one-on-one supports include: Case coordination Crisis management Peer support Health & social services referrals Legal advocacy Court accompaniment Support to prevent child apprehension Support to facilitate family reunification Reference letters for housing, employment, courts Assistance with social assistance housing Gender Self-Determination Project.

Seniors First BC provides services to older adults who are not able to access legal help elsewhere due to low income or other barriers. We may provide services for the following legal issues: Residential Tenancy/Housing, Debt, Pensions and Appeals, Assisted Living/Residential Care, Discrimination, Abuse/Neglect, Financial Exploitation, Consumer Complaints, Guardianship/Capacity. We may also assist older adults with drafting wills and personal planning documents. To book an appointment call 604-336-5653 and say you want to see a lawyer at a seniors legal clinic. 1st Thursday – Vancouver from 9:30 am to 12 pm at People’s Law School

The Virtual Legal Clinic lets you meet with a lawyer using video conferencing for one hour of legal help. This is a free service offered by Rise Women’s Legal Centre in partnership with select transition homes/agencies in British Columbia.

The Kinship Care Help Line provides **support, advocacy and resource information** to grandparents and other relatives raising a family member’s child as well as to service providers and allies. The Help Line serves callers from across the Province and is staffed by three part-time advocates trained in advocacy, social work, family law, and government services related to child welfare and kinship caregiving. Our services to kinship caregivers are **confidential** and **ongoing**. ##### **604-558-4740** ##### ****1-855-474-9777 (Toll-Free)**** **We Support & Advocate for Kinship Care Families. We help Kinship Caregivers:** * Navigate complex service systems such as the Ministry of Children and Family Development * Overcome information barriers; to find the answers, assistance, and resources needed to prevent or solve problems * Identify benefits and services that will support the whole family.

First United has been engaged in legal advocacy work since the 1970’s. We provide much-needed legal assistance, advice and representation to low-income and vulnerable people in the Downtown Eastside. Today, we support clients with upwards of 2,800 unique cases every year, helping people resolve a range of issues. The advocates at First United provide a broad spectrum of legal advocacy services but mainly focus on tenancy and social assistance issues. Please note that we cannot necessarily offer full assistance or representation in all areas. However if we are not able to help, we will try to find someone else to take on the issue, if possible.

We provide our clients with legal rights and advocacy on cases that involve tenancy, consumer debt, disability, employment, family law and income security issues. We assess and provide direct Community Outreach services and Information to people in the South Okanagan. Our reach includes: Penticton, Oliver, Osoyoos, Keremeos, Princeton and Summerland. **Address**: #209 – 304 Martin Street Penticton, BC, V2A 5K4

As a community partner of the Legal Services Society, we improve access to legal aid services such as: Connecting people to legal aid intake offices to apply for legal aid Referring people to other community, print, and web resources Raising awareness of legal aid services Promoting and providing law-related community development and/or public legal education activities and information.

The Family Services Team consists of two Family Support Workers and three Social Workers. Our mandate is to advocate on behalf of individual(s) requesting our services and to work with those urban Indigenous families who are directly involved with the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD). #### Contact Information 231 Regina Avenue Victoria, BC V8Z 1J6 T: (250) 384-3211 F: (250) 384-1586 E: reception@vnfc.ca Hours of Operation Mon – Fri, 8:30am – 4:30pm #### Primary Care Clinic **T: (250) 940-2669** Unit 209 – 2951 Tillicum Road Victoria, BC V9A 2A6 Hours of Operation Mon – Fri, 9:30am – 3:00pm #### Shelter **T: (250) 886-1360** 231 Regina Avenue Victoria, BC V8Z 1J6 No walk-ups accepted: call 250-886-1360 for assessment between 2pm-7pm.

Our legal advocate can provide legal advice and representation for seniors for the following legal issues: • Residential Tenancy/Housing • Debt • Pensions and Benefits Please phone for more information or to arrange a consultation with our legal advocate.

The Legal Support Program is Poverty Law based. This includes legal problems that result from housing, income or food security. The Legal Support Program provides advocacy, information and referrals for the following Poverty Law Matters: Tenancy Income Assistance (welfare) Disability Government pensions Child Tax Benefit issues Debt/consumer Employment standards WorkSafeBC BC

At Catherine White Holman Wellness Centre, we aim to provide low-barrier wellness services to transgender and gender non-conforming people in a way that is respectful and celebratory of clients’ identity and self-expression. Our centre is volunteer run, and all of our practitioners are volunteering their time so that we can offer free services to people who need them, regardless of factors like citizenship, health insurance, or residential address. Our Lawyers can provide summary legal advice for free on a variety of topics. We’re pleased to have Adrienne Smith and Fadi Yachoua on our team. Adrienne will be available to provide summary advice about legal issues you may have – family law, human rights, employment, etc. They are also available to assist with legal identity document changes and notarization. Fadi assists our clients with questions about immigration. Our lawyers can provide support and guidance but cannot take on your case and act for you as your lawyer.

Outreach workers in the Langley and Aldergrove areas provide free and confidential support and resources for women who have experienced, or who are experiencing, any type of abuse in any type of relationship. Outreach Services Emotional and practical support, information and referrals according to your needs by staff who are familiar with resources both within and outside of the community Support and advocacy regarding family law issues, housing, income assistance Form completion assistance.