Welcome to JFCY’s Legal Wiki which provides information about the legal rights of children and youth in Ontario. Click here to download this information from our Publications page. Please contact us if you have any questions or trouble finding the information that you seek. You should speak to a lawyer for legal advice since laws often change.
COVID19 update: all shelters are open – they provide essential services.
Emergency shelters are run by charities, not-for-profits, and businesses. In the City of Toronto, a department of the City called Hostel Services provides shelter and assistance to homeless individuals including youth. Meals and basic necessities are provided in a secure environment, as well as case management, counselling, and support programs for adults and children. Housing workers help clients in pursuing permanent housing opportunities.
Shelters in Toronto must abide by the City of Toronto’s Shelter Standards. In addition to the internal rules and rights provided for at each shelter, the questions and answers below apply to shelters in Toronto abiding by the Shelter Standards.
While staying in a shelter, you are responsible to treat shelter staff and other shelter residents respectfully. You are to respect the private property and belonging of the shelter and other shelter residents.
Every shelter must have a written policy saying that they will not disclose personal information they have collected about you without your consent. However, there are some exceptions when a shelter can disclose information without your consent, including: when refusing or neglecting to provide the information could put staff or other residents in danger; where disclosure is required under the Child and Family Services Act (reporting concern about a child at risk of danger); or where disclosure is required by a court order or subpoena.
The shelter must provide you with access to bathing and where possible, laundry facilities. Soap, shampoo, razors, and feminine hygiene products should also be provided in emergency circumstances and/or if you have no income. Weapons and illegal drugs are not allowed in the shelter or on shelter property. If you take prescription medication, the shelter must store it in a secure location that is locked at all times.
There is no standard length of stay in a shelter, how long you stay will depend on your specific circumstances. If you are being discharged from a shelter, you and the shelter must have first worked out a plan for your future. There are some cases where a shelter can discharge you without a plan. These include if you were involved in: an assault on staff or other residents, or other violent behaviour, possession of weapons, trafficking of illegal drugs, or any other serious behaviour that comprises the health and safety of the other residents and/or staff.
All shelters must have an internal process for resolving complains and they must inform all residents of the process. All shelters will also keep a written record of formal complaints and a written record of the resolution.
If your shelter worker is unable to help you with your concerns, or you want to appeal a decision by your shelter provider, you may contact the Hostel Services at 416-392-8741. Your call will be directed to a supervisor. The shelter will be investigated to ensure that services are provided in accordance with Toronto Shelter Standards.
If you are in need of an emergency shelter you can call any of the below numbers:
This is a listing of emergency youth shelters in Toronto. Most shelters take youth between ages 16-24. Intake procedures are different at each shelter. Contact the shelter in your area or the Toronto Shelters Central Intake for more information: 416-338-4766 or 1-877-338-3398.
Additional resources in Toronto:
The Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) provides unique rights and procedures for young people between the ages of 12 - 17 who are charged with a criminal offence in Canada.
Going to school is a legal requirement for young people between the ages of 6 and 17. The Education Act gives parents and children specific rights in the publicly funded school system.
In Ontario, you can choose where you live when you are 16 years old. The decision to leave is often not easy and can lead to difficulties in getting all your belongings, having enough money to support yourself and attending school.
COVID19 update: all shelters are open – they provide essential services.
Emergency shelters are run by charities, not-for-profits, and businesses. In the City of Toronto, a department of the City called Hostel Services provides shelter and assistance to homeless individuals including youth. Meals and basic necessities are provided in a secure environment, as well as case management, counselling, and support programs for adults and children. Housing workers help clients in pursuing permanent housing opportunities.
Shelters in Toronto must abide by the City of Toronto’s Shelter Standards. In addition to the internal rules and rights provided for at each shelter, the questions and answers below apply to shelters in Toronto abiding by the Shelter Standards.
While staying in a shelter, you are responsible to treat shelter staff and other shelter residents respectfully. You are to respect the private property and belonging of the shelter and other shelter residents.
Every shelter must have a written policy saying that they will not disclose personal information they have collected about you without your consent. However, there are some exceptions when a shelter can disclose information without your consent, including: when refusing or neglecting to provide the information could put staff or other residents in danger; where disclosure is required under the Child and Family Services Act (reporting concern about a child at risk of danger); or where disclosure is required by a court order or subpoena.
The shelter must provide you with access to bathing and where possible, laundry facilities. Soap, shampoo, razors, and feminine hygiene products should also be provided in emergency circumstances and/or if you have no income. Weapons and illegal drugs are not allowed in the shelter or on shelter property. If you take prescription medication, the shelter must store it in a secure location that is locked at all times.
There is no standard length of stay in a shelter, how long you stay will depend on your specific circumstances. If you are being discharged from a shelter, you and the shelter must have first worked out a plan for your future. There are some cases where a shelter can discharge you without a plan. These include if you were involved in: an assault on staff or other residents, or other violent behaviour, possession of weapons, trafficking of illegal drugs, or any other serious behaviour that comprises the health and safety of the other residents and/or staff.
All shelters must have an internal process for resolving complains and they must inform all residents of the process. All shelters will also keep a written record of formal complaints and a written record of the resolution.
If your shelter worker is unable to help you with your concerns, or you want to appeal a decision by your shelter provider, you may contact the Hostel Services at 416-392-8741. Your call will be directed to a supervisor. The shelter will be investigated to ensure that services are provided in accordance with Toronto Shelter Standards.
If you are in need of an emergency shelter you can call any of the below numbers:
This is a listing of emergency youth shelters in Toronto. Most shelters take youth between ages 16-24. Intake procedures are different at each shelter. Contact the shelter in your area or the Toronto Shelters Central Intake for more information: 416-338-4766 or 1-877-338-3398.
Additional resources in Toronto:
Become informed about your legal rights when it comes to decisions about your healthcare and mental healthcare treatment. This includes any procedure carried out or prescribed by a health practitioner to diagnose or treat a physical or mental health condition.
The Ontario Human Rights Code protects you from discrimination on many grounds and in many social areas. Specific legal concerns raised by youth identifying in LGBTQI2S communities are about GSAs, Trans and Gender Inclusive Spaces and changing their ID.
You can be given a ticket for breaking a provincial law if you are over the age of 16. Some of the common laws that young people are given tickets for is covered in this section.
Emergency help, criminal court, civil remedy and other supports
In family law, the rights of children are unique. Become informed about going into and being in the care of a Children's Aid Society, when parents can assault you (corporal punishment / spanking exemption to assault), and your right to be heard when your parents are splitting up.
JFCY's Childhood Arrivals and Support & Advocacy Program (CASA) provides services to young people who arrived in Canada as children and are living in Ontario without immigration status.
Street Youth Legal Services (SYLS) is a program that provides information and services for homeless youth between the ages of 16 - 25. These are some of the common issues that the SYLS lawyer is asked about.
