Name: COSTI
Address: Canada

COSTI Immigrant Services is a community-based nonprofit in the Greater Toronto Area that supports newcomers, refugees, and families as they settle and build stable lives. Founded in 1952 (originating as the Italian Immigrant Aid Society), COSTI has evolved into a multicultural agency with programs that reflect the realities of modern immigration.

Core services

• Settlement & orientation: needs assessment, referrals to benefits and community resources, help with forms, and workshops on life in Canada.
• Language & skills training: LINC and enhanced language training focused on workplace communication, plus digital and employment-related skills.
• Employment services: job search planning, resume and interview coaching, job matching, Second Career and skills training navigation.
• Refugee services: reception, temporary accommodation, intake and assessment, legal aid referrals, housing search and ongoing settlement support.
• Social & family services: mental-health and wellness supports, programs for women, seniors and youth, domestic-violence supports, and housing help.

Locations and access

COSTI operates multiple sites across Toronto, Peel and York Regions, placing services near transit and newcomer communities. Most programs are free to eligible clients and offer interpretation in many languages; some services are delivered online to improve access.

Strengths

• Breadth and integration: clients can move between language, employment, housing and counselling without leaving the system.
• Deep refugee expertise: a key provider in federal and local resettlement efforts since 2021 for Afghans and other cohorts.
• Scale and experience: decades of service and tens of thousands of clients annually provide tested program models and employer links.

Considerations

• Service catchment is primarily the GTA; newcomers outside this region may need provincial or local partners.
• Program eligibility and wait times can vary by funding stream; confirm requirements and availability before visiting.

Who it is for

Newcomers and refugees in the GTA seeking practical support—English classes, job search help, housing navigation, or family and mental-health services—delivered by a large, multicultural nonprofit with longstanding community roots.