About Us

Halton Information Providers (HIP) is a coalition of non-profit community resource centres dedicated to improving access to community information across the Halton Region. Since 1988, HIP has worked collaboratively to maintain and share accurate, up-to-date information on essential services that support the well-being of individuals and families.

Our History

The need for coordinated community information in Halton emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s, as non-profit and government organizations recognized the importance of accessible service information. This led to the creation of Community Information Centres across Ontario — including in Halton — to help residents find health services, housing support, legal aid, and other vital resources.

HIP was officially formed in 1988 to unify service providers who were duplicating efforts to collect and share community data. By working together, HIP created a more efficient, accurate, and reliable system for delivering local information.

What We Do

Today, HIP is a vital part of Halton’s social infrastructure. We manage and maintain the Halton Community Services Directory (HIPinfo.ca), a comprehensive online database of community services and supports available in Burlington, Halton Hills, Milton, and Oakville.

Our directory helps residents, service providers, and frontline workers quickly find trusted information on services such as:

- - Health and wellness programs
  - Housing and shelter supports
  - Legal and crisis services
  - Child care and family supports
  - Food security and basic needs assistance

We also contribute content to regional and provincial directories, helplines, and referral services.

Our Impact

HIP helps thousands of people each year connect to the supports they need. We’re proud to be recognized as a leader in Information and Referral (I&R) services, collaborating with networks across Ontario and Canada to strengthen the delivery of social services.

HIP is the official community information provider in Halton for:

Ontario 211 Services
Ontario Health atHome
Halton Child Care Directory and Information Line
TheHealthLine.ca
And other regional and provincial initiatives

All HIP editors are certified Community Resource Specialist–Database Curators (CRS–DC), trained to uphold the highest standards of data quality and service accuracy.

Partnerships & Memberships

HIP is a proud member of:

InformCanada
Inform USA
Various local and provincial working groups focused on service coordination and digital inclusion

How we can Help

How we can help residents of Halton

HIP connects people with the services they need to live healthier, safer, and more supported lives in their communities.

Helping You Find the Right Support

We make it easy for residents to search for and connect with:

Health & mental health supports
Housing and shelters
Food programs and basic needs
Employment & financial assistance
Child care & parenting resources
Legal, crisis, and emergency help
Seniors’ services & youth programs

Whether you’re facing a challenge or simply need to know what’s available in your area, HIP is here to help.

24/7 Online Access

Visit HIPinfo.ca any time to explore thousands of up-to-date listings. No registration or login is needed. Information is organized, reliable, and easy to search by keyword, location, or category.

For Everyone in the Community

HIP supports:

Residents looking for help or services
Frontline workers making referrals
Newcomers trying to navigate local systems
Caregivers and families seeking support
Community agencies and service providers

Trusted, Accurate, Up-to-Date

Our editors are certified Community Resource Specialists. We ensure listings are regularly reviewed so you can count on getting the right information at the right time.

Need Help Finding Services?

Connect with us or visit your local library for assistance using the directory. Together, we help make Halton a stronger, more connected community.

How we can help Halton's service providers.

Our goal? To make it easy for you and your clients to find accurate, local support when it’s needed most.

Our trained Community Resource Specialists can:

Assist with service navigation

We help you or your clients find the most appropriate local programs — especially when needs are complex or urgent.

Answer information and referral questions

Not sure where to send someone? We can help identify the right contacts, eligibility info, or alternate options.

Support walk-ins and appointments

Library visitors often ask about housing, food, mental health, employment, legal help, and more. We’re ready to guide them — or support them in connecting to your agency.

Extend your reach

Our staff refer clients directly to local agencies (like yours) every day — keeping people connected to trusted services across Halton.

How We Help in Practice

A newcomer needs ESL and child care options? We’ll map out nearby supports.
A senior needs food delivery and tech help? We’ll connect them to free, local programs.
A family needs housing, school help, and legal advice? We’ll help untangle the web.

Whether they come through you or walk into a library, we’re here to help them move forward.

Connect with Your Local HIP Partner

We’re part of your community’s support network. Let’s work together. Let us be part of your frontline toolkit — so no one has to navigate alone.

Connect with Us

Our Members

HIP includes the following coalition members:

Information Oakville (lead partner), a service of the Oakville Public Library

Information Burlington, a service of the Burlington Public Library

Information Milton, a service of the Milton Public Library

Information Halton Hills, a service of the Halton Hills Public Library

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

These partners work together to collect, maintain, and disseminate high-quality, reliable information for the entire region.

To learn more about us, visit:

About HIP & FAQs

Help Us Spread the Word

Your support helps ensure that more people in Halton know where to turn for help.

Here’s how you can get involved:

Follow us on social media, and help share important resources with the community. We focus on promoting services that are vital but lesser-known, serving vulnerable populations, timely and relevant to Halton residents. Tag us in your posts — we’ll do our best to amplify your message!
Explore our directory at hipinfo.ca, find a resource you think more people should know about, and share it with your network. Don’t forget to tag us so we can help spread the word!
Use our sample graphics to promote HIP on your social media or workplace accounts using our ready-made graphics. Just right-click and save as, then upload to your post.
Check out our resource posters, perfect for display at your workplace, school, or community space.
Link to us, add hipinfo.ca to your website’s list of resources. You can also embed one of our HCSD Search Widgets to let your visitors search the directory directly from your site.
We love connecting with the community! Invite us to your event or staff training — we’ll share resources, answer questions, and help people learn how to navigate the directory.

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