The first place for newcomers to stop in Hamilton is the YMCA Immigrant Settlement Services of Hamilton (ISS Hamilton), located at 25 Main Street West. Here you’ll be greeted with an orientation to the city and the Canadian way of life. This orientation provides services for individuals and families, women, seniors, and youth alike.

An example of orientation services include:

• Information, orientation and referral
• Assistance with housing and life skills
• Family support and crisis counselling
• Help with applying for financial assistance
• Assistance with government forms

A language assessment can be scheduled and conducted as you wait. Additional services are also available through our wide network of partners and community providers.

The YMCA is proud to have available the friendliest and most accessible urban space for newcomer youth to Hamilton, aged between 13 and 24 - the Newcomer Youth Centre (NYC)! The NYC provides a free space for newcomer youth in an appealing environment that fosters safety, trust and inclusion. Arts & crafts, leisure games, video games, movies, foosball, etc.,  are abundantly available for all NYC members.  Special activities can be viewed quickly by accessing the NYC calendar on this site.

Additional NYC services include:

• Education & Development - Conversation Circles, Homework Clubs and life skills training.
• Employment Resources - Access to unique YMCA employment programs and services.
• Sports & Recreation - A YMCA membership allows youth a chance to play!

The NYC is located at:

YMCA Hamilton (Lower Level)
79 James Street South, Hamilton, ON     L8P 2Z1
p. 905.529.7102 x5558

The Ottawa Community Loan Fund (OCLF) organization has recently developed a Newcomer Finances Toolkit, produced with funding from Citizenship and Immigration Canada. The kit is designed for service providers to use with their clients, but there is tremendous value in the kit to use on your own. Start with the Instructor’s Manual, which will give you an overview of the toolkit as well as helpful information on how to use it, or make an appointment with on of our YMCA Immigrant Settlement Services staff for hands-on help. The Instructor’s Manual also includes activities.

Click HERE to access the Newcomer Finances Toolkit.

OCLF also has a cool online ATM Simulation that you can try. Click on image below to access.

Also try your hand using a Direct Debit machine by clicking on the image below.

The Interim Federal Health Program

The Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) is funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). It gives temporary health-care coverage to certain people in Canada who do not have insurance or the money to pay for health-care services. This helps them get needed care, assists with their integration into Canadian society and reduces risks to public health.

IFHP eligible groups are: refugee claimants awaiting determination by the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB), failed claimants awaiting removal from Canada, resettled refugees, protected persons in Canada waiting to receive their provincial/territorial health insurance coverage, persons detained under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and victims of trafficking in persons. Eligible people can get IFHP coverage until they qualify for provincial/ territorial health plan or until they can pay for their health services.

For more information, download the IFHP Information Sheet below or click on the weblinks to go to an information page on the CIC site.

Resettlement from outside Canada: Arriving—Health care

Information sheet for Interim Federal Health Program recipients