erinrefugeeaction.ca

LINK-CBC’s The Current: Syria’s Uncertain Future

LINK-What about the Syrian Kurds?

LINK-Syria’s Kurds Facing Dangerous Headwinds

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-TED VIDEO: What does it mean to be a refugee?

By Benedetta Berti and Evelien Borgman.

-Who is a refugee?

A person that has fled their country due to fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality or membership of a particular social group or political opinion and can’t safely return home.

Basically refugees have been forced to leave and are unable to return to their countries of origin for their own safety.

-What are the two types of refugee resettlement in Canada?

There are two types of resettlement programs, the government program or Resettlement Assistance Program, and Private Sponsorship. 

Under both programs, refugees become permanent residents upon arrival in Canada. This gives them the ability to be employed, access OHIP, study at a post-secondary level and be eligible for other services.

-Who may become a Private Sponsor?

Incorporated organizations such as faith-based organizations or cultural groups can sign formal sponsorship agreements with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. (IRCC) They become Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAH).

These organizations assume overall responsibility for submitting applications and reporting to IRCC under their agreement. They do not do the on-the-ground sponsorship support work.

Private Sponsorship Groups (like Erin Refugee Action) undertake the actual sponsorship activities. The Sponsorship Group (ERA) provides support, financial and otherwise, to the refugees under the supervision of the Sponsorship Agreement Holder.

Sponsorship Groups must have their sponsorship application and settlement plan approved and signed by the SAH as well as have 50% of the estimated sponsorship cost in hand to be able to submit the application to IRCC in Ottawa.

-What are the responsibilities of the Sponsorship Group?

Sponsorship groups agree to provide the refugees with guidance, housing, settlement assistance and support for 12 months or until the refugee becomes self-sufficient, whichever comes first.

Private sponsors provide support by:

• Providing the cost of food, rent and household utilities and other day-to-day living expenses
• Money management and budgeting
• Providing clothing, furniture and other household goods sourced new and from community donors
• Finding a family physician and dentist that ideally speak their language
• Assisting with applying for provincial health-care coverage and other government programs
• Enrolling & supporting children in school and adults in language training
• Providing orientation with regard to everyday activities such as banking, cellphones, paying bills
• Transportation including transit orientation and obtaining a driver’s license if they are eligible
• Helping in the search for employment and job training
• Finding interpreters
• Connecting them to the faith community of their choice.
  And much more!

-Where can I find more information about Private Sponsorships?

LINK-Private Sponsorship Program Canada