In early August, the Toronto LIPs participated in a community agency table meeting with the City of Toronto regarding updates on the City’s response to the arrival of refugee claimants in Toronto. As the City continues to actively seek new potential sites suitable for longer-term shelter use, the City asked for community partners’ support by identifying potential spaces that may be suitable.
In follow up to the meeting, the City shared the Property and Functional Requirements for potential shelters, respite sites and warming centres – see document in attachment.
Other ways to help:
- Offer available 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom rental units through DonateTO portal. Refugee claimants and asylum seekers are eligible to receive support to pay their rent from the Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit which pays the difference between 30% of the household’s income and the average market rent in the area, or for recipients of social assistance, the difference between the shelter allowance and the household’s rent and utilities costs.
- Donate items such as toiletries, pyjamas, towels, undergarments, gift cards, food voucher, feminine products, clothing, diapers (size 3-6), good quality pillows, single and double bed fitted sheets, comforters, duvets and duvet covers, mattress protectors, laundry baskets, bath mats, cell phones less than five years old, laptops in excellent condition, Presto cards, SIM cards, and other items directly to community agencies. List of organizational accepting specific donations is available here: https://www.toronto.ca/business-economy/partnerships-sponsorships-donations/donate/community-partners-serving-refugees/
- Make a financial donation to the African Resettlement Emergency Fund, through the United Way of Greater Toronto; this fund directly helps asylum claimants, focusing on efforts by Black-led community groups, to settle in their new home, including providing housing and employment support, food, clothing, community connections and more: https://www.unitedwaygt.org/ways-to-give/resettlement-fund/?utm_medium=print&utm_source=news-release&utm_campaign=2023-african-resettlement-fund&utm_content=donate