Steps Toward Independence
PDF version of Steps Toward Your Independence (182KB)
Obtaining Financial Assistance
CHILDCARE SUBSIDY
667-3492 (Toll free 1-800-661-0408), 9010 Quartz Road, Whitehorse
Childcare subsidies are available for childcare when parents are out of the home for education or work. There are some provisions for emergency situations. The amount of the subsidy is based on your income, the number of adults in the home, the number of children needing childcare, and the community in which you live. There is no set amount: it is best to speak to those at the program and apply.
SOCIAL ASSISTANCE (GOVERNMENT OF YUKON)
667-5674, 3168 3rd Avenue
Social Assistance can provide financial help to those in need. Eligibility is based on your income. Intake appointments occur almost daily; if you think you might be eligible, call to make an appointment.
SOCIAL ASSISTANCE (INDIAN AND NORTHERN AFFAIRS CANADA)
667-3399, Room 122, 100 Main Street (Elijah Smith Building)
Social Assistance through Indian and Northern Affairs is available to status First Nations people, based on income. Intake appointments occur regularly; if you think you might be eligible, call to make an appointment.
Social Housing
(Whitehorse Housing, 667-5712 or call 1-800-661-0408 to find out the number for social housing in your community):
- Social housing, like Whitehorse Housing and other housing available in each community, is a program that is based on individual circumstances and the availability of units.
- Rent is roughly 25% of your gross monthly income. If you are on Social Assistance, through the Government of Yukon or Indian and Northern Affairs (INAC), your rent is a pre-set amount for each unit.
- Social Housing in the Yukon asks you to fill out an application that consists of:
- 2 rental references
- income verification
- landed immigrant papers (if applicable)
- identification
After completing the application, you will be asked to meet with a Tenant Relations Officer, who will review your application with you, and make recommendations to the Board.
Grey Mountain Housing Society, 633-4880
- Grey Mountain Housing Society is a non-profit society that provides housing, based on income, to people of First Nations ancestry. Call the number above for more information.
Legal Assistance
If you want to find out more about the law, lawyers, and
legal matters, call:
- The Law Line (668-5297 in Whitehorse or toll-free 1-867-668-5297)
- The Lawyer Referral Service (668-4231) where you can meet with a lawyer for half an hour for a fee of $30.
- Neighborhood Law Centre (667-5255 Suite 200 – 2131 2nd Avenue, Whitehorse) provides free legal advice to low-income individuals in areas of non-family civil law. For example, they can assist with legal services related to landlord-tenant or housing matters, social assistance or employment insurance issues. You can call to schedule an appointment or attend a drop-in clinic Tuesdays from 1-4 pm. Consultation is available over the phone for people in communities: call toll free 1-800-661-0408 extension 5210.
If you have children, you might need to speak to a lawyer about getting interim custody of your children.
Protection Orders
Protective court orders can provide assistance or protection to victims of violence. Protective orders are available through the RCMP or can be obtained through Victim Services (667-8500).
AN EMERGENCY INTERVENTION ORDER:
- can allow you and your children to stay in your own home, if it is safe to do so
- can have the abusive person removed from your home by a police officer (designate)
- is issued over the telephone by certain Justices of the Peace (JPs)
A VICTIM’S ASSISTANCE ORDER:
- can give you temporary possession of personal property
- can prevent the abusive person from taking or damaging your property
- can require the abusive person to pay you or your children for any loss of income, medical expenses, moving and legal expenses
- can only be issued by a Territorial Court Judge and you may have to apply and attend court
WARRANT OF ENTRY (help from others):
- is issued by a JP or Territorial Court Judge
- can authorize a police officer to enter your residence, assist or remove you, and search the home for signs of violence to use as evidence
PEACE BOND:
- is an order made by a Judge or Justice of the Peace that tells a person to be of good behaviour and to keep the peace
- may include conditions the person must follow for a set time up to 12 months. The most common condition of a Peace Bond is that the person not have any direct or indirect contact with you. You can also ask the Court to place other conditions on the person, for example, no access to your residence or no access to your children except through a third person such as a social worker.
To get a Peace Bond, first go to the RCMP and explain why you want one. Victim Services can also help you with this process (667-8500 or toll free 1-800-661-0408, extension 8500).
Firearms Concerns
- if your partner applies for or acquires a firearms (gun) license, you can call 1-800-731-4000 and follow the instructions to record a ‘spousal concern’. This will cause a firearms officer to review an existing firearms license or application.
- if you have other concerns about firearms, or if you are not sure if your partner has a license, contact the RCMP.
Your Own Bank Account
All banks are required by federal law to ask for 2 pieces of identification (ID) when setting up a new bank account. One piece of ID needs to be picture ID, and the other needs to be an accredited form of ID, such as:
- Driver’s licence issued in Canada
- Passport
- Certificate of Canadian citizenship
- Birth Certificate
- Social Insurance card
- Old Age card
- Status card
- Health card
At many banks you have to make an appointment, but some have walk-in appointments available. You may want to use a different bank than before to avoid mix-ups.
There is no minimum requirement of money needed to open a bank account, but to issue cheques from the account there must be at least enough money to pay for the cheque-ordering costs.
Changing Your Locks
If you need to change your locks, it will cost $50-$70:
- Approximately $50.00 for a house call
- Approximately $9.00 per door
- Approximately $3.00 per key
In some cases, landlords will cover costs of security features (deadbolts, peepholes, etc.)
A New Phone Number Account
NORTHWESTEL 811
You don’t need a deposit if:
- you have an existing account with Northwestel
- there is a previous record of an account in your name with Northwestel, in good standing
- you can set up pre-authorized payment with a bank or a credit card
- you had an account with Telus or Bell Canada, and Northwestel can access those records.
You need a deposit if:
- there is no previous record of a phone line in your name
The deposit can cost between $100 and $240. The more basic the service, the less it will cost (extras include internet, voicemail, call display, etc). Security features for telephones (call display, speed dial, unlisted numbers) may cost extra. However, Social Assistance may cover these costs if they are aware of the safety issues.
To set up a new account:
- you need to be 19 years or older
- you will be asked personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Insurance number, driver’s licence number, place of work, etc.
CELL PHONES
- mobile cellular phones are available from several dealers in Whitehorse
- the cost varies depending on the cost of the cell phone itself and the type and length of contract
- cell phones can cost from $40-$70 or more. A standard plan will cost about $30 per month for a limited number of minutes. There may also be a one-time activation fee.
To set up a new account you need:
- to be 19 years or older
- two pieces of identification
A New Electricity Account
YUKON ELECTRIC 633-7000
All new accounts have a $16.05 set up fee.
If you have a phone number during the day, or an employment phone number, you might not need a deposit.
The amount of the deposit depends on the electrical consumption of the home.
Changing a Mailing Address
WITH CANADA POST
To make a 3-month address change:
- within Canada: (re-routing your mail temporarily)
$30 for three months ($10 per month thereafter)
- outside of Canada: $60 for three months
($20 per month thereafter)
To make a permanent address change, with Canada Post
re-routing your mail for 6 months:
- within Canada, $33
- outside of Canada, $66
WITH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
- for Canada pension or disability cheques call 1-800-277-9914
- for inquiries about Employment Insurance or to make changes to a Social Insurance Number, contact Human Resources Canada at 667-5083 or go to the office at 125 – 300 Main Street (Elijah Smith Building), Whitehorse
- to change your address with the Canada Revenue Agency, go to the office at 120 – 300 Main Street (Elijah Smith Building), Whitehorse, or call 1-800-959-8281. After 90 days of separation, you can also apply to Revenue Canada for a marital status change, and they will recalculate your amounts of child tax credit and GST credit.
To Replace a Yukon Health Care Card
- to make general inquiries about health care insurance, call 667-5209
- to change your address or obtain a new health care card, stop by the Health Services Branch at 4th Floor, Financial Plaza Building, 204 Lambert Street, Whitehorse.
|
This symbol  identifies .pdf files. To view and print .pdf documents you need free Adobe Acrobat Reader software .
|
