Help Us Rescue More Refugee Claimants From Homelessness
Our desire is to help as many refugees as possible by providing transitional housing and wrap around supports.
Let's work together to welcome these newcomers and set them up for success to thrive in Canada!
The Bad News: Lack of Affordable Housing
It's no secret that Canada is in a housing crisis - not just a lack of housing, but a lack of affordable housing. A massive influx of international students and sponsored immigrants has compounded the issue, leading to a spike in homelessness. Shelters are overflowing; waitlists are long. Families are often separated, causing further traumatization. Emergency housing is unsustainable and/or undesirable.
Help Us Rescue More Refugee Claimants From Homelessness
Our desire is to help as many refugees as possible by providing transitional housing and wrap around supports. Let's work together to welcome these newcomers and set them up for success to thrive in Canada!
The Bad News: Lack of Affordable Housing
It's no secret that Canada is in a housing crisis - not just a lack of housing, but a lack of affordable housing. A massive influx of international students and sponsored immigrants has compounded the issue, leading to a spike in homelessness. Shelters are overflowing; waitlists are long. Families are often separated, causing further traumatization. Emergency housing is unsustainable and/or undesirable.
Refugee Claimants bear the brunt of the crisis. Government or privately sponsored immigrants receive permanent residency (PR), financial support and work permits immediately when they arrive in Canada.
Refugee claimants receive none of those. On average, they wait at least 2-3 months for a work permit. Without help or community connections, it is next to impossible to find an affordable living situation while they wait in limbo for their legal hearing and are not yet able to earn an income.
The key to seeing refugee claimants thrive and become financially independent is to provide transition housing and walk alongside them as they adapt. Through Inasmuch, most families can afford to rent their own housing within 3-4 months!
The Good News: New housing for 21 women!
Recently we were approached with an exciting opportunity to rent an 8 bedroom home in Abbotsford. Though we don't yet have all the funds secured, we took a leap of faith and said yes! We hired one of our former residents as the Community Host. Starting May 1, we will provide transitional housing for7 single women - roughly 21 per year.
With your help, we can provide safe housing for single women.
This expense wasn't in our budget. By faith, we are relying on the help of you, our community, to launch and furnish these additional transitional housing bedrooms. It's an opportunity too good to pass up!
The Cost of Growth
We invite you to partner with us to meet the needs of this additional transition house:
$3700 covers one month of rent
$500 covers one month of gas for immigration checks in Vancouver
$300 covers one month of utilities
$100 gift cards help a single woman buy groceries
Volunteer to help with:
Yard maintenance and gardening
Community building and friendship with female refugee claimants
Purchasing household starter kits (link)
Donating household furniture, linens and small appliance
Become a monthly donor
We can plan and serve much more efficiently with monthly contributions. Consider becoming a monthly donor to help meet the ever increasing need for housing and supports for refugee claimants as we grow.