The 14 Home and Community Care Support Services Regions (HCCSS) in Ontario are crown agencies with the responsibility of planning, integrating, funding and delivering health care services in the province. Each HCCSS works with health service providers (e.g. hospitals, community health centres, long-term care, support services, mental health and addiction services) within their defined area. (Note: Prior to being called HCCSS, these agencies were called LHINs - the name change happened in April 2021 however, the services offered are exactly the same currently).
Home and Community Care
The HCCSS is responsible for delivering Home and Community Care services in their respective regions. HCCSS provide assessment, care coordination, information and referral to a full range of services for children, palliative patients, individuals with complex care needs, those who are transitioning from hospital to home and patients who require in-home services to help them remain in their home.
HCCSS Care Coordinators create individual care plans to help patients:
• Maintain independence in their own home
• Avoid hospital admission
• Explore and choose from a wide range of health and social services
• Find the right housing or long-term care home options when living independently is no longer possible
Health care services provided by the HCCSS may include: nursing, personal support, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech-language therapy, and access to adult day programs, assisted living, falls prevention and group exercise classes. Anyone can make a referral/request for service by calling their local HCCSS. If you are an inpatient in a hospital, HCCSS staff will transition you safely home or to services within the community. As a first step, individuals are assessed by a Care Coordinator who works with patients, caregivers and your health care team to develop care plans to support your unique and changing needs. The HCCSS uses a globally recognized, research-based assessment tool to help deliver the best possible care plan. If living independently is no longer the best option, Care Coordinators work with eligible patients and their families to find the long-term care home that best fits each person’s needs. Application for admission into a provincially-regulated long-term care home can only be made through the HCCSS, who assess eligibility, have comprehensive listings of available homes for long and short stays, and will help with the application forms.
Whether it’s a HCCSS home and community care service, or a service that is available in the community, HCCSS staff work with patients to find the care and services they need. HCCSS home and community care services are provided at no cost to the patient. Some community services are available, at a fee.
Additionally, certain medical supplies may, in some cases, be partially or fully covered by the program. Telephone numbers for all HCCSS in Ontario and the areas each covers are included in the chart below.
To find out further information about your local HCCSS, call 310-2222 (area code not required) or visit www.lhins.on.ca[1].
HOME AND COMMUNITY CARE SUPPORT SERVICES Contact Information
HCCSS Head Office |
Phone Number |
Areas/Cities Covered |
Erie St. Clair |
1 (888) 447-4468 |
Chatham-Kent, County of Lambton, Windsor & Essex County |
South West |
1 (800) 811-5146 |
London, Hanover, Owen Sound, St. Thomas, Seaforth, Stratford & Woodstock |
Waterloo Wellington |
1 (888) 883-3313 |
Waterloo Region, Guelph and Wellington County & the southern part of Grey County |
Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant |
1 (800) 810-0000 |
Grimsby, Hamilton, Niagara, Haldimand-Norfolk, Brant & Burlington |
Central West |
1 (866) 465-9662 |
Dufferin County, Caledon, Brampton, Malton, Rexdale & Woodbridge |
Mississauga Halton |
1 (866) 371-5446 or (877) 336-9090 |
Halton Hills, Milton, Oakville, North West Mississauga, South West Mississauga, East Mississauga and South Etobicoke |
Toronto Central |
1 (866) 243-0061 |
Toronto |
Central |
1 (888) 470-2222 |
South Simcoe, York Region, North York and areas of Northern Toronto |
Central East |
1 (800) 263-3877 |
Scarborough, Durham, Northumberland, Kawartha Lakes, Peterborough & Haliburton |
South East |
1 (800) 869-8828 or 1 (800) 668-0901 |
Bancroft, Belleville, Brighton, Brockville, Gananoque, Kingston, Napanee, Perth, Picton, Smiths Falls, Trenton |
Champlain |
1 (800) 538-0520 |
Ottawa, Western & Eastern Champlain (including Carleton Place and Pembroke) |
North Simcoe Muskoka |
1 (888) 721-2222 |
Barrie, Midland, Penetanguishene, Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, Muskoka & Orillia |
North East |
1 (800) 461-2919 |
Algoma, Cochrane, James and Hudson Bay Coasts, Manitoulin/Sudbury, Nipissing, Parry Sound & Timiskaming |
North West |
(807) 345-7339 |
Thunder Bay, Rainy River & Kenora Districts |
[1] Information reviewed by Central HCCSS staff