1. Building Capacity Immigrant Housing Support Services City of Toronto Shelter, Support and Housing Administration Division
CERIS Precarious Housing among Migrant Communities: A Multi-Sectoral Discussion Thursday, May 15, 2014
2. Immigration Statistics
In 2011, Canada’s foreign-born population of about 6,775,800 people. It is 20.6% of the total population, the highest proportion among the G8 countries.
Asia (including the Middle East) was Canada's largest source of immigrants during the past five years, although the share of immigration from Africa, Caribbean, Central and South America increased slightly.
Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec and Alberta
3. Immigration Statistics
3,611,400 immigrants or 53.3% of population in Ontario
People tend to migrate when they are relatively young.
In 2011, 58.6% of people who came to Canada since 2006 were in the core working age group between 25 and 54.
Immigrant children aged 14 and under who came in the last five years accounted for 19.2% of the newcomer population, and another 14.5% were between the ages of 15 and 24.
4.
One-half of the City of Toronto’s residents are foreign born
Almost half of the City of Toronto’s residents are members of racialized groups
5. Toronto a Settlement Destination
The CMA of Toronto had the largest share of foreign-born of the urban centres, 37.4% of all foreign-born in Canada.
About 2,537,400 immigrants lived in CMA of Toronto in 2011; they accounted for 46.0% of Toronto area’s total population, up slightly from 45.7% in 2006.
2006-2011, over 381,700 newcomers settled in Toronto, about one-third (32.8%) of the total, the highest share.
6. Appropriate Housing is an Immigrant Settlement Issue
“For immigrants and refugees, finding a suitable place to live in a supportive community is an important first step towards successful integration.
For many newcomers, the process of finding appropriate housing is made more difficult by the lack of adequate financial resources, high housing costs, a shortage of rental vacancies, and discriminatory practices in the housing market.”
(Murdie, R.A., p. 147 in Hulchanski and Shapcott, eds., Finding Room. Toronto: CUCS Press, 2004)
7. Multi-lingual and case management services in partnership with the community social services including
Housing Help Services
Drop-in Services
Tenant Hotline
Streets to Homes Program
Immigrant and Refugee Housing Committee
Examples of Programs That Respond to the Needs of Newcomers
Newcomer Support Initiatives
8.
Birkdale Residence
COSTI Reception Centre
Christie Refugee Welcome Centre
Family Residence
Woodgreen Red Door Family Shelter
Sojourn House
Toronto Community Hostel
Current SSHA Funding to Support Newcomers Examples of Specialized Shelter Programs for Newcomers
9. Immigrant and Refugee Housing Committee (IRHC)
IRHC was created in 1992 as a task group for a City of Toronto sponsored consultation to respond to an influx of refugees
Subsequently, the Committee’s mandate has been expanded to include the development of strategies and initiatives to deal with the housing needs of immigrants and refugees
11. IRHC Membership
Over 25 non-profit organizations are active in the housing and immigrant serving sectors
Researchers (University and other organizations)
City of Toronto staff
Minutes and announcements are distributed to over 120 people on a regular basis
IRHC members are involved with other networks serving refugees and immigrants
Online Information
12. Response to Challenges
Capacity Building
Information Sharing
Public Education
Training Projects including the FCJ Refugee Centre, Salvation Army, COSTI North York Housing Help, and City staff
Research
13. Response to Challenges
Program Development and Advocacy
Red Cross First Contact
Sojourn House Newcomer Housing Services
Romero House Transitional Housing
14. IRHC Working Groups
Public Education
Workshops & Forums
Partnerships
Findhelp Toronto
Affordable Renters & Housing Sector
15. Response to Challenges
Outreach and Public Education
Information Flyer for Refugees and Service Providers
Workshops and Forums
A Networking Model for other Cities
16. Research & Policy
Research Proposal
A Profile of Relative Homelessness Among Toronto’s Immigrants and Refugees
Contributions to Research Projects
City of Toronto Refugee Housing Study
Mayor’s Homelessness Action Task Force Study
Updating the CMHC “Housing Guide for Newcomers”
CIC & City of Toronto study of emerging issues for service providers and immigrants, new trends, and best practices
Manitoba’s Research Alliance Study (Winnipeg)
Hotham Mission Asylum Seeker Project (Victoria, Australia)
17. Settlement Issues Youth
The visible minority population is generally younger than the overall total population.
Many visible minorities were immigrants who came to Canada in recent decades.
18. Youth Immigrant Challenges
Refugee experience, loss of loved ones, family separation, mental health and culture shock, identity confusion
Systemic racism
Drop-out from/ kicked out of schools, unemployment
Poverty, inadequate housing
Crime and gang involvement, immigration issues, deportation
19. Programs for Youth
Toronto Youth Cabinet
Ending the Risk Among the Hispanic Youth
Grafitti Arts Initiative Community Development Youth Apprenticeship Program
Hispanic Youth Homelessness Prevention
Breaking the Cycle of violence
Gang Prevention/ Gang Intervention Breaking the Cycle of Violence
Provincial funding to support African immigrant youth
20. For further information please visit:
www.toronto.ca/housing
Azar Farahani
416- 392-0068
afaraha@toronto.ca