A little "HALCO History"

The HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic (Ontario) was founded in 1995, and began operating as a full service legal clinic in November of that year.

From 1991 to 1994, we operated a legal service on a project basis through the then ARCH Advocacy Resource Centre for the Handicapped. HALCO was established in partnership with the AIDS Committee of Toronto and the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation.

HALCO is now an independent registered charity funded by Legal Aid Ontario, the AIDS Bureau of the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, and the ACT Community Partners Fund. We also receive donations from foundations and private donors.

HALCO is governed by a nine-member volunteer Board of Directors, elected from among our membership. Board members' terms are for two years.

We started with a staff of three, but we now have seven full-time staff: our Executive Director [who is a lawyer], three staff lawyers, a Community Legal Worker, an Office Manager and an Administrative Assistant. As well, we have a full-time articling [law] student each year and law student volunteers.

Since 1995, the demand for our services has continued to grow steadily. We provide summary advice to an average of 250 people each month. We also provide public legal education talks and we participate in networks/advocacy groups.