Free legal advice coming to Hamilton Community Food Centre

Mountain residents who have legal questions can get some free help each month at the Hamilton Community Food Centre starting Oct. 26.

“It’s a drop-in program,” said Danielle Boissoneau, community action co-ordinator at the Limeridge Road West centre that is run by Neighbour to Neighbour Centre.

The service is being provided by the Hamilton Community Legal Clinic as part of its Hamilton Outreach Project, in which its lawyers run legal clinics in the city on a wide range of matters including tenants’ rights, Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program, Canada Pension Plan, workplace safety, Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, employment insurance, criminal law, family law and refugee law. The Hamilton Community Food Centre is the project’s only Mountain venue.

“I think the need is great,” said Boissoneau. “Folks are reaching out for help for this sort of stuff.”

Boissoneau added the legal clinic will also provide followup action for people seeking help as needed.

Nadine Watson, a staff lawyer with the HCLC and part of the outreach project team, said joining with Neighbour to Neighbour Centre will enable the firm to serve a wider part of the community.

“We knew a site was necessary on the Mountain,” Watson said. “The idea behind the project is to go where clients are located.”

Watson said they expect to be busy, particularly with landlordand tenant-related matters and immigration issues. The clinics run from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the last Friday of each month, although the date for the December clinic has not been confirmed. For more information, call Danielle Boissoneau at 905574-1334, ext. 303.

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We knew a site was necessary on the Mountain. The idea behind the project is to go where clients are located. NADINE WATSON

Hamilton Community Legal Clinic