Government-Assisted Refugee Settlement in BC

Metropolis BC Policy Research Symposium

Presented by

Gulalai Habib

November 7th, 2008

Agenda

• Current context – (2007-2008)

• Refugee Settlement outcomes –

(2003-2005) – key findings

• Present and future trends

• Suggested action plan

1. Current context January-October 2008

• 800-900 government-assisted refugees (GARS) arrive in Vancouver annually

• 50% of GARs tend to arrive between September 1 - December 15th

• As of October, 2008, 61% of GARs destined to BC have arrived

Current context Jan.-Sept. 2008 – cont’d

• 487 Individuals or 187 family units• 52.2% female & 47.8% male• 18 single parent families (4%)

• 223 individuals or 46% were children & youth under 18 years old• 18% or 86 children were between 6 & 12 years old• 14% or 66 children were under 5 years

Current context - Jan.-Sept. 2008 cont’d

• Top 5 destinations by municipality - Surrey 138 individuals (28%)- Tri-Cities 101 (21%)- Langley 80 (16%)- Burnaby 46 (9%)- Vancouver 44 (9%)- North Vancouver 17 (4%)- Richmond (1%)

Current context - Jan.-Sept. 2008 cont’d

• 20 different source countries –

Top 5: Myanmar 160 (33%), Iran 70 (14%), Afghanistan 51 (11%), Iraq 50 (10%), & Ethiopia 25 (5%)

• Secondary migration from other provinces – 25 individuals / 17 units

2. Refugee Settlement Outcomes –The “New Beginnings” Research - 2003-2005

a. Pre-departure InformationPre-departure Information• 45% of respondents had been living outside their

country of origin for more than 5 years and over 25% of respondents had been living outside their country of origin for more than 10 years.

• Many respondents wanted more information prior to their departure, e.g., about employment and educational opportunities, the need for English language skills and availability of ESL classes.

• 15% of respondents highlighted the need for more information about Canadian culture and lifestyle.

• 73% had no pre-existing family in Canada, while 69% had no friends when they first settled

• Common challenges concerning Housing search:– high rents and their limited income,– language barriers, and– finding housing large enough for their family

b. Arrival and OrientationArrival and Orientation

c. Subsequent Settlement OutcomesSubsequent Settlement Outcomes

• ESL and EducationESL and Education

• Nearly 60% of respondents from both 2003 and 2005 rated their English language skills as ‘Not at all’ or ‘Beginner’.

• Only 9% of respondents have undertaken additional education or skills training.

• Only 8.5% respondents have undertaken computer classes since their arrival in Canada.

• FinancesFinances

• 26% of clients reported relying on food banks to feed themselves while receiving RAP income assistance.

• 26% of respondents reported spending 50-59% of their monthly income on rent.

• 28% of respondents reported spending more than 60% of their monthly income on rent.

• EmploymentEmployment• Families where no one is working – 66%

• Unemployment rate of all GARs – 78%– 53% of GARs who arrived in 2003 are unemployed.– 95% of GARs who arrived in 2005 are unemployed.

• Families dependent on Government assistance – 74%

• Of those who are employed:– 44% are working in part-time jobs– 78% stated that their current employment did not

match their skills.

• HealthHealth

• Respondents from 2003 rated their physical health less well than those who arrived during 2005.

• Among 2003 respondents – 15% stated they were disabled, 13% rated their health as poor while 17% rated their health as fair.

• When asked how many days out of the past month (March 2006) their health had impacted them, 30% stated more than 4 days.

• Racism, Discrimination & Physical Racism, Discrimination & Physical SafetySafety

• 83.5% of respondents stated that they had not faced any racism or discrimination since their arrival.

• Only a minority (12.5%) reported some form of racism or discrimination.

• Of the clients who did report racism or discrimination:– 74% had been subjected to verbal abuse,– 21% had faced physical violence, and– 5% did not wish to comment.

• Despite the challenges individuals reported, 92% of all respondents stated that they were either ‘Very Happy’ or ‘Happy’ at having moved to Canada.

•Emergence of “at risk” multi-barrier low income ethnic enclave

•Increase in medically compromised clients

•Pro-tracked stays in refugee camps

•Little or no formal education experiences

•Higher rates of illiteracy

•21% (April-June’08) & 34% (July-Sept.08) GARs are special need cases

3. Present and Future Trends3. Present and Future Trends

• Langley has become a new destination (2007 – 18% of all GARs)

• Richmond – settlement of the first group of Karen GARs

• Increase percentage of children and youth – currently 47+% under 18 years

Present and Future Trends – cont’dPresent and Future Trends – cont’d

• Arrival of Bhutanese refugees – beginning March 2009 for the next 3+ years

• Increase arrivals of refugees from Asia who have been in protracted refugee camp situations

Present and Future Trends – cont’dPresent and Future Trends – cont’d

• Increase settlement to Fraser Region – 2007 - 78% of all GARs

• Creation of multi-barrier low-income ethnic enclaves

Present and Future Trends – cont’d Present and Future Trends – cont’d

Present and Future Trends – cont’d Present and Future Trends – cont’d

• Significant increase since IRPA (June 2002) in special need cases

• Increasing numbers of at risk isolated families

• Disconnect between CIC policy and program goals is putting tremendous strain on service delivery system

• BC and Federal RAP Income Support rates are driving one of the most vulnerable newcomer populations into abject poverty

• Started in 2007 and for the next decade we will receive significant numbers of government-assisted refugees from Asia (Karen, Rohingas, Chen, Bhutanese). None of these communities have any significant pre-existing populations in BC

Present and Future Trends – cont’d Present and Future Trends – cont’d

• Refugee youth are not prepared for the Canadian school system and vice versa

• Our current service delivery models and interventions do not work particular well since IRPA

• Agency front-line staff are being called to tackle growing client issues without appropriate training standards

Present and Future Trends – cont’d Present and Future Trends – cont’d

4. Suggested Action Plan

• Multi-jurisdictional approach is required to support better GAR settlement outcomes

• ELSA allowable instructional hours need to be reviewed to allow illiterate students more time to learn English

• Bring back transportation subsidizes within ELSA for low-income students

Suggested Action Plan – cont’d

• Provincial - increase daycare spaces at all levels of ELSA

• Provincial - multi-barrier two-year pilot program – positive step forward - we need new innovative approaches

• Provincial - enhance the Community Bridging Program to allow all GARs the choice of a Host volunteer

Suggested Action Plan – cont’d

• MHSD – Income Support Rates need to be reviewed in light of growing poverty and at risk homelessness

• MHSD - Policy change needed to allow people to work without having any earned funds deducted dollar for dollar

• MHSD – allow GARs to learn English without putting pressure on them to look for employment

Suggested Action Plan – cont’d

• CIC – Review & revision of RAP based on the current characteristics of GARs

• Change the transportation loan program to a grant program

• CIC - Detach the RAP income support rates from MHSD

• CIC – Provide some English language training and better pre-departure orientation overseas

• CIC – Provide sufficient resources for Life Skills Support programs