Notes
Key recommendations
(1) Increase in affordable non-market housing by provincial and municipal levels of government;
(2) Putting in place a rent supplement program so the refugees can afford private renal market housing;
(3) Federal government waiving transportation and medical loans, so it doesn’t compromise their housing affordability;
(4) To address the above three points, the authors recommend provision of a long-term (5 years post-arrival) case management system for all refugee categories in Canada.
Key populations
-
Homeless refugees (19 adult refugees from Afghanistan, Congo, Ethiopia, Iraq, Pakistan, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, and Syria)
-
service providers (10 service providers (six settlement counselors, two cultural brokers, and two housing support/case worker)
Key findings
This study explores the factors that lead to refugees’ homelessness experiences from their own perspectives and the perspectives of service providers assisting them with finding housing.
The findings suggest that a number of factors contribute to refugees’ homelessness experience, including:
(1) repayment of refugee transportation loans
(2) sudden rent increases
(3) interpersonal conflicts with sponsors
(4) racism or discrimination on the part of landlords or neighbors
(5) property infestations
They become more likely to remain homeless when they are put on waiting lists for affordable or subsidized housing or when facing lack of English language or housing system knowledge.
Community organizations
NA
Location
Edmonton, Alberta
Gaps identified
One reason the participants became displaced was due to the gap in housing options in Canada. Refugees were placed in unaffordable, over-crowded, or poor quality housing while they did not receive any further support from their housing worker.
Integration timeline
At what point during the integration process the study was conducted?
On average – 5 years after arrival
ISBN: 1488-3473
