Training
Our team of Community Resource Specialists would be happy to help train community members and those working to support the many communities of Halton Region, on how to use the Halton Community Services Directory to find exactly what you're looking for. Training is recommended to ensure you're getting the best results from your searches, and are aware of the many features and benefits of the directory. Each training session can be tailored to your unique searching needs and/or to the needs of the clients you serve.
and/or your community organization would like a one-on-one or group presentation, about finding community information, or navigating our directory in general
Below you will find a brief overview of the Halton Community Services Directory and the many different ways of searching our directory to find what you're looking for.
Quick Overview
Here's a short video overview of the Halton Community Services Directory, created by our Halton Hills Public Library partners.
Who we are
The Halton Community Services Directory (HCSD) is owned by Halton Information Providers (HIP), a coalition of community resource centres in Halton, which include:
The Directory
The directory is an online, simple and easy to use resource for finding programs and services provided by community, social service, health, government or relevant commercial organizations, located in or serving, the region of Halton. Listings cover a broad range of programs and services, from access to basic necessities of life, to enhancement of personal and social growth.
What's in it
An online directory of community & human services, mainly non-profit and government, with some commercial services to fill gaps in service.
4,000+ listings
All listings are collected and maintained by HIP, plus some listings are shared with us from outside regions
HIP Editors are certified Community Resource Specialist – Database Curators (CRS-DC), and listings are held to professional standards (Alliance of Information and Referral Systems, aka AIRS)
Listings are updated at least once a year
Searching the Directory
Keyword Search
Keyword is the default, or choose an alternate search type
You can choose Serving or Located in to narrow down your search to a community
Add “quotes” around names and phrases
If you are certain of the organization’s name, type “name” and change the selection to Organization Names(s)
For a general service category, type in the service and choose Service Categories
Category Search
Listings with similar subjects are grouped together under one icon for easier searching
This is based on the Taxonomy added to each listing at the time of creation, and maintained through annual updates
Sub Category Search
Each icon includes a drop down menu of specific sub categories
By clicking on a sub category you will find listings that offer those services
Topic Guides
Includes How to and Topic listings
How to listings offer additional instructions on finding a service
Topic listings summarize multiple options within 1 listing. For example: medical labs, walk in clinics, where to donate items, used wheelchairs and assistive equipment, etc…..
"Reverse Lookup" (Browse by Category)
Start with a general category, and filter through sub-topics while knowing the amount of listings it includes
See official definitions used for categorizing our listings
Find categories and resources you didn’t know about
Special Directories
