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Settlement services: turn a long to-do list into a plan
You do not have to understand every Canadian system before asking for help. A settlement appointment is a place to sort out what matters first, find the right services and leave with a manageable next step.
Reviewed 7 September 2026 · Durham Region, Ontario
Start with the problem, not the name of a program
If your family is living out of suitcases, you may need housing help before a résumé workshop. If you have a place to stay but cannot communicate with your child’s school, that may be the priority. Describe what is difficult in ordinary language; you do not need to diagnose the system or arrive knowing which form to request.
Community Development Council Durham is a local starting point for newcomer settlement and connections to other services. Ontario’s settlement guide explains the kinds of help agencies can provide, including school registration, language learning and interpreting referrals. Eligibility can differ between individual funded programs, so ask about your own circumstances rather than assuming every service has the same rules.
Make your first appointment useful
Write a short list under three headings: what must happen this week, what can wait a month, and what you do not understand yet. Include upcoming appointment dates and practical barriers, such as shift work, no childcare or limited internet. Ask whether an interpreter, telephone appointment or accessible format can be arranged.
A useful opening is: “I live in [community]. My main concerns are [three needs]. I speak [language]. Can you assess which programs I can use and help me make a plan?” First contact only needs enough information to arrange help. Ask the worker which documents are needed and how to share them securely before sending copies.
Choose a location you can actually reach
Use the Ajax Welcome Centre or Oshawa/Clarington Welcome Centre listing to find contact details and compare the route from your home. Tell the centre if an in-person visit is difficult; ask about remote intake and whether the particular worker you need is available at that location. A nearby office is not useful if its appointment times conflict with your job.
If the main problem is rent or unstable accommodation, contact Housing Help Durham — CDCD for housing navigation alongside your settlement appointment. For an immigration decision, refusal or representation, use the lawyer directory; settlement support and legal representation are different services.
Leave with names, dates and a follow-up
Before the conversation ends, write down who is doing each next step. Ask: “Is this a referral you will send, or should I contact the organization myself?” Confirm the expected response time and what to do if no one responds. Where language is a barrier, request a short written summary you can review later.
Keep a simple appointment log with the organization, worker’s name, date and agreed action. Bring the log to the next meeting instead of retelling the whole story. Once urgent needs are covered, use your first-30-days guide to organize the next stage of settling in.
Put this guide into action
Relevant contacts in our directory
Community Development Council Durham
Start a settlement conversation and ask which local programs fit your needs.
info@cdcd.orgOshawa/Clarington Welcome Centre
Contact the Oshawa/Clarington centre about available settlement support.
ocwc@welcomecentre.caPublic business emails are for routine enquiries, not emergency assistance. Confirm intake, eligibility and fees with the provider.
Sources and further help
This independent guide helps you find services; it does not replace professional advice or an individual eligibility assessment. Report a correction.