About Us

HIP maintains the Halton Community Services Directory (HCSD), one of Halton's largest and most comprehensive sources of information about community services.

Our team of certified Community Resource Specialists - Database Curators (CRS-DC) works with organizations throughout the region to ensure information remains accurate, current, and easy to find.

The information we maintain helps people locate:

• • Health and wellness services

  • Mental health supports

  • Housing and shelter programs

  • Food and basic needs assistance

  • Legal and crisis services

  • Employment and financial assistance

  • Child care and family supports

  • Services for seniors, youth, newcomers, and many other populations

HCSD is more than a website.

The information maintained by HIP supports service discovery across multiple systems and organizations that help people navigate available supports.

Our information is used by:

• • Residents looking for help

  • Community agencies making referrals

  • Community Resource Specialists

  • Municipal information services

  • Healthcare and community navigation initiatives

  • Ontario 211 and other referral networks

  • Websites, resource guides, and digital service navigation tools

By maintaining a shared source of trusted community resource information, HIP helps improve information quality, reduce duplication, and make it easier for people to connect with services.

Finding help has changed.

People may search online, call a helpline, visit a library, speak with a healthcare provider, connect with a community organization, or use digital tools to find services.

All of these pathways depend on accurate information.

When service information is incomplete or outdated, it can create confusion, delay access to support, and lead to inappropriate referrals.

HIP helps strengthen service discovery by ensuring community resource information is regularly reviewed, organized, and maintained by trained Community Resource Specialists.

Reliable referrals begin with reliable information.

As technology continues to evolve, trusted community resource information is becoming more important, not less.

Search engines, service navigation platforms, referral systems, and emerging AI-enabled tools all depend on structured, accurate information about services, eligibility requirements, locations, contact details, and service areas.

AI can help people discover services more easily, but it cannot maintain community resource information on its own.

That work requires ongoing partnerships with community organizations and professional oversight by Community Resource Specialists.

HIP is committed to ensuring that trusted community resource information continues to support residents, service providers, healthcare partners, and future service navigation systems.

All HIP editors are certified Community Resource Specialist - Database Curators (CRS-DC) and follow recognized information and referral standards.

We work closely with service providers across Halton to:

• • Verify information

  • Review records regularly

  • Maintain consistent data standards

  • Improve service discoverability

  • Support accurate referrals

Our commitment is to provide trusted, up-to-date information that helps people make informed decisions and connect with the supports they need.

HIP believes that access to accurate community resource information is a shared community responsibility.

We collaborate with community organizations, libraries, municipalities, healthcare partners, referral services, and other stakeholders to strengthen service discovery and improve access to supports throughout Halton Region.

Together, we help make Halton a more connected and informed community.

Child Care Directory and Information Line, a service of The Halton Resource Connection

• childcaresearch@thrc.ca

• 905-875-0235

• thrc.ca/ccdil