Project Genesis’ Storefront offers free-of-charge, confidential help in areas such as housing rights, welfare, pensions, and family allowances. Our services are available to everyone. We do not refuse service based on immigration status, age, religion, country of origin, income or housing situation.

We provide information to help people understand their legal rights and responsibilities. We also offer different types of assistance to ensure that people’s rights are respected and that they have access to the benefits and services for which they are eligible.

We offer both in-person and  telephone services with trained volunteers supervised by experienced and knowledgeable staff. In some cases, we are able to provide services in languages other than English and French; please call for more details.

Our individual support work shows us how social policies affect people’s day-to-day lives, which guides our community organizing work.

We provide legal information, advocacy and support in the following areas. (We may be able to refer you to other resources for problems outside our areas of intervention. If you are unsure if we help with a particular issue or have questions about our services, please call us.)

  • Explain rights and obligations of landlords and tenants
  • Give information and help with the following:
    • Rent increases
    • Evictions
    • Repossessions
    • Lack of heating
    • Repairs
    • Mould
    • Bugs and animals (bedbugs, cockroaches, mice, etc.)
  • For low cost housing applications, please see our Social Housing Workshops
  • Explain welfare benefits, special benefits, and check eligibility
  • Apply for benefits, including filling forms and helping with supporting documents
  • Help with the following types of problems:
    • refused applications
    • benefits cut
    • welfare debts
  • Explain government pensions and check eligibility
  • Apply for federal pensions (Old Age Security, Allowance, Survivor’s Allowance, Guaranteed Income Supplement), including filling forms and helping with supporting documents
  • Apply for Quebec pensions (Retirement, Survivor, Disability), including filling forms and helping with supporting documents
  • Help with other problems, including eligibility and amounts
  • Explain family allowances and check eligibility
  • Responding to official requests for documents
  • Help with problems related to these benefits, including eligibility
  • Explain Shelter Allowance and check eligibility
  • Apply for Shelter Allowance (forms not provided)
  • Explain the programs and check eligibility
  • Apply for or renew Medicare, including filling forms and helping with supporting documents
  • Help with eligibility problems, including proving residence