Local refugee support organization calling for more federal investment in housing

While the federal government announced it will be providing an additional $210 million dollars to fund interim housing for refuge claimants, a local refugee support organization says the City doesn’t know how much will be directed to the capital.

Louisa Taylor, executive director at Refugee 613, told Wake Up With Rob Snow on July 19, the City has been proactive and dynamic in doing all it can in working with community organizations to support refugee claimants in finding housing.

“While we have not reached the stage where refugee claimants are turned away from city shelters (as in Toronto), we do have a great need for more investment from the federal level to support the money the city is spending to house not just refugee claimants but all people that are homeless,” said Taylor.

According to Taylor, Ottawa is hoping for more investment as the city’s housing file is costly and they need all the help they can get.

While asylum seekers are waiting months for their case and work permits to be processed, they’re often unable to secure housing during this period, she explained.

“We’re talking about refugee claimants who are here and want to work – and have the skills and energy we need – but they’re frustrated waiting for work permits and they don’t have access to the same services as other refugees selected from abroad,” said Taylor.

Ottawa is seeing more refugee claimants related to the federal government relocating refugees to other communities, she explained. This comes as Quebec did not have the capacity to support the numbers that arrived through the now-closed Roxham Road border crossing.

Taylor pointed out, this move to relocate asylum seekers came with almost no consultation with the City of Ottawa and no notice for groups that support refugees.

“Refugee claimants in Ontario and across the country are eligible for very few services and it’s hard for them to figure out how to navigate the system. There are many barriers and that’s why they turn to the shelter system,” added Taylor.

At the local level, governments, shelters and refugee support organizations are trying to fix the problems that Canada has designed, she said.

“Ottawa has seen a surge in refugee claimants in the shelter population since the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise is enough that the city is tracking it.” explained Taylor. “We have to find solutions because these folks deserve dignity and the right to have lives where they can make choices and contribute.”