How Ontario is helping

  • Working to ensure seamless, co-ordinated and appropriate support for the refugees who arrive in this province.
  • Investing $10.5 million over 2 years to help deliver both immediate and future support for refugees and help organizations and groups that are privately sponsoring refugees, including:
    • Supporting refugees’ immediate needs by committing $2 million for Syrian relief efforts through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the UN World Food Programme
    • Allocating $1.8 million to several organizations that help attract and support private refugee sponsors
    • Allocating $3.7 million to several organizations to help provide comprehensive, community based supports for refugees
    • Allocating a further $626,000 to help refugees settle and integrate into Ontario.
  • $330,000 to Lifeline Syria to help recruit and train private refugee sponsors in Ontario, and then match them with Syrian refugees approved for settlement by the federal government.
  • In 2014, Ontario welcomed more than 11,400 refugees from around the world to start a new life in the province.

About the Syrian refugee crisis

  • Over
    10,000
    refugees to Ontario
  • Over
    4 million
    fled the civil war
  • Approximately
    50%
    are children

Volunteer

Together, we can help. If you are interested in supporting efforts to welcome refugees in your community, visit SPARK Ontario to register for email updates on volunteer opportunities, and to learn more about potential opportunities close to home.


Donate internationally

I want to donate money to an international relief organization to help a family in need.

Donations to humanitarian and relief organizations can help address the specific needs of the affected population as quickly as possible:

Donate at home

I want to donate money to a local agency to help a family in need.

Donations to organizations focusing on re-settlement can provide quick support to families as they begin new lives:

Check with a local settlement agency to see if they are accepting donations.

List of settlement agencies


Matching donations

For every dollar donated by a Canadian individual to a registered Canadian Charity (between September 12, 2015 - February 29, 2016), the federal government will donate $1 to the Syrian Emergency Relief Fund.


Sponsor

I want to sponsor a family in need.

Sponsoring a family takes a significant investment of time and money.

To sponsor a refugee family, it is recommended that you organize a sponsorship group of 5 or more people that can share a financial and ongoing commitment.

For more information on sponsorship visit Citizenship, Refugees and Immigration Canada’s website

Clothing, toys, furniture

I am an individual or business.

I have new or gently used household furnishings, clothing, toys or goods that I want to donate to help a family in need.

Check with a local settlement agency to see if they are accepting donations.


Property/Housing

I am a private property owner.

I have private accommodation that can be used to help house a family in need.

In Toronto contact: WoodGreen Community Service’s H.O.M.E. (Housing Opportunities and Marketplace Exchange)

Across Ontario contact: Roofs for Refugees

Contact an agency that helps find permanent housing for refugees:

Legal advice

I am a lawyer.

I want to offer pro bono advice on the legal aspects of the sponsorship process to help a family in need.

Health care

I am a health care professional.

I want to volunteer my time, or offer my clinic, practice or organization to take care of refugees’ health.

Call the Refugee HealthLine at 1-866-286-4770 to register (and help connect refugees with transitional health care and services).


Related


Banner photo credit: A Syrian migrant carries a child as she walks along a railway track after crossing into Hungary