Community health centres (CHCs) are primary care clinics with a focus on people who have had trouble getting health services. Their services are free, and you don't need a referral. You do need to reach out to your local CHC yourself.
What a community health centre is
Ontario has 75 CHCs. Each one is a not-for-profit organization governed by its community and run by a volunteer Board of Directors. CHCs provide primary care through a team of different health professionals. They also put a lot of effort into keeping people healthy and preventing illness, and they work on the social factors that affect health.
Who they focus on
According to Ontario.ca, CHCs focus on people who have had trouble accessing health services. This includes:
- People living on a low income
- New immigrants
- People with complex mental health issues
- People without health insurance
- People facing geographic isolation, or cultural or language barriers
- People at higher risk of ill health because of age, social isolation, gender, sexual identity or orientation, or other factors
Do I need a health card?
Not necessarily. Some CHCs have a mandate to offer care to everyone who needs it, as long as they have the capacity to provide it. This matters most for people who are often shut out of care, such as people who are unhoused and refugees. Because every centre is different, call and ask what yours requires.
What they offer
CHCs offer primary health care, health promotion, disease prevention, and programs that address the social causes of poor health. The programs differ from one centre to the next, based on what the local community needs.
How to find one and join
Services are free, and you don't need a referral. It is up to you to contact your local CHC. Ontario.ca lists all 75 centres, with addresses, phone numbers, and websites, on its community health centres page. Call or visit the website of a centre near you and ask:
- Whether you can use the centre, and what it needs from you
- Whether it is taking new patients right now
- How to register, and whether there is a waitlist
You can also register for Health Care Connect, which can match you with a primary care team. For more on the different types of clinics, see what the different types of clinics mean. Our Find a Family Doctor page has more ways to search.