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Table 6 Types of legal needs identified in participants booked and attended a Legal Health Clinic appointment

From: Legal needs of patients attending an urban family practice in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada: an observational study of a legal health clinic

Type of Legal Need

Booked appointment

n = 94

Attended appointment

n = 69

n (%)

n (%)

Income

82 (87.2)a

62 (89.9)a

‘Trouble making ends meet’

74 (78.7)

54 (78.3)

Needing help getting or keeping benefits

53 (56.4)

39 (56.5)

Someone taking their money or possessions without permission

21 (22.3)

14 (20.3)

Medical review date for ODSP

5 (5.3)

4 (5.8)

Other/unspecified income issue

37 (39.4)

30 (43.5)

Housing

67 (71.3)a

48 (69.6)a

Problems with home repairs, heat not working, bed bugs, etc.

35 (37.2)

25 (36.2)

Denied a rental unit due to discrimination

27 (28.7)

19 (27.5)

Late with rent this year

24 (25.5)

14 (20.3)

Being harassed or discriminated by their landlord

18 (19.1)

14 (20.3)

Worried rent subsidy will be cancelled

13 (13.8)

9 (13.0)

Being threatened with eviction

11 (11.7)

6 (8.7)

Served eviction papers

8 (8.5)

6 (8.7)

Court order affecting where or with whom they can live

8 (8.5)

5 (7.2)

Behind with rent

7 (7.4)

3 (4.3)

Other/unspecified housing issue

23 (24.5)

17 (24.6)

Employment

66 (70.2)a

52 (75.4)a

Has been hurt at work

38 (40.4)

30 (43.5)

Having trouble finding work due to discrimination

32 (34.0)

25 (36.2)

Current or past employer owes them money

9 (9.6)

9 (13.0)

Has been harassed by your employer or colleagues

9 (9.6)

8 (11.6)

Other/unspecified employment issue

16 (17.0)

15 (21.7)

Health

53 (56.4)a

41 (59.4)a

Does not have someone to make health decisions if they are unable to do so

49 (52.1)

37 (53.6)

Other/unspecified health issue

13 (13.8)

12 (17.4)

Family/Community

91 (96.8)a

66 (95.7)a

Does not have a will

80 (85.1)

59 (85.5)

Relationship where someone tries to control them

46 (48.9)

30 (43.5)

Problems with child support or access

24 (25.5)

14 (20.3)

Going through a divorce or separation

18 (19.1)

14 (20.3)

Trouble bringing family members to Canada

13 (13.8)

9 (13.0)

Trouble attaining citizenship

5 (5.3)

5 (7.2)

Other/unspecified family or community issue

14 (14.9)

11 (15.9)

  1. Note: a Respondent indicated at least one item from the respective list