Newcomer Services Office 

Family of 4

Collaborating with the Newcomer Services Office to Support New Canadians

Cornerstone proudly collaborates with the Newcomer Services Office, a vital non-profit organization that walks alongside individuals and families as they build stronger, safer lives in Canada. Whether someone is a newcomer, refugee, or Canadian-born citizen receiving social assistance, their team offers practical help with compassion and dignity.

The Newcomer Services Office provides wraparound support for:

  • Newcomers and Refugees: including work permits, PR and citizenship applications, etc.
  • Individuals on Social Assistance: including help with OW, ODSP, CPP, housing support, interpretation, and translation
  • Mental Health and Counselling Services: for both newcomers and Canadian citizens

Their mission is simple: help people access the resources they need to thrive.

Their Community Impact

The Newcomer Services Office works to:

  • Connect newcomers with essential services and supports
  • Advocate for systemic fairness and inclusion
  • Improve community systems to reduce barriers for people rebuilding their lives
  • Support individuals accessing Ontario Works (OW) and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) benefits
  • Remove barriers to mental health care through referrals, translation support, and sliding-scale fees

Their vision centres on building communities where everyone can live with dignity, free from poverty and distress—achieved one person, one family at a time.

Our Collaborative Approach

A Community-Centred Approach:

  • The Newcomer Services Office refers individuals and families to Cornerstone when mental health support would benefit their settlement journey
  • We provide trauma-informed, culturally responsive counselling that honours each person’s unique background and experiences
  • Together, we support healing, growth, and long-term wellbeing for some of the most underserved members of our community 

Why This Collaboration Matters

When someone is trying to make a fresh start—whether in a new country or under new life circumstances—mental health support can be just as important as housing or income.

Newcomers often carry invisible burdens: trauma from their home countries, grief over loss, stress from cultural adjustment, or anxiety about unfamiliar systems. These emotional challenges can get in the way of successful settlement or stability, yet they’re often overlooked due to stigma, language barriers, or a lack of culturally informed care.

That’s where our partnership comes in.

By working hand in hand, the Newcomer Services Office and Cornerstone help ensure that mental health support isn’t an afterthought, it’s part of the settlement journey. We make it easier for individuals and families to access care without shame, without red tape, and without financial barriers getting in the way.

a diverse couple holding hands. You only see hands

Ready to start your healing journey? We’re here to help.