Our Mission and Credo

Community Connection exists to create and improve access to services for people.

We believe in the strength of community and creating alliances with people and organizations to affect positive change.

Our Roots

Community Connection was established in 1969 as a telephone counselling centre, clothing depot and volunteer registry. Over the years we have been credited with starting a number of local organizations including a single parents association and Big Brothers, meals on wheels and the housing resource centre.

Today

Today we are an Accredited leader in human services navigation. Our Certified Community Navigators connect people to services by offering information provision, needs assessment, advocacy, follow up and crisis intervention through the national 24/7 helpline 211 and in person walk-in assistance.

Our work has established deep and expansive relationships across many sectors where we work to:

- make immediate connections for people with urgent needs such as food or meals, financial assistance, shelter services and crisis intervention or diversion programs including homelessness and human trafficking;

- assist with connections to broader interventions such as tax credits, budget counselling, legal advice, walk-in clinics, caregiver supports, child development programs, education or learning opportunities, employment or training programs;

- decrease the burden on other systems from the public trying to access services and for other organizations trying to properly field and direct inquiries;

- collect and report community planning data relating to both the demand and supply of human services, gaps and overlaps and trending needs;

- provide opportunities to bring partners together to work together on potential solutions as we identify barriers and service gaps that result in unmet needs for people.

South Georgian Bay Services

Community Connection is working to develop our seniors services and volunteer program. We operate Home for Life - a volunteer delivered community support service for patients referred through our local Family Health Team and Community Health Centre.  Our volunteer teams host regular coffee socials across the region for older adults to socialize and build their friend networks. Our volunteer computer pals host computer learning cafes every month for older adults to ask questions and learn new ways to use their laptops, tablets and smart phones.

We are on the leadership team developing the Collingwood Common Roof and Rotary Hub, creating a safe place for our residents to get help or give help, and for service providers to connect.

We are leading efforts for the development of a permanent emergency housing shelter and a temporary Out of The Cold program to meet the urgent needs of residents experiencing homelessness or at risk.