Private Sponsorship Of Refugees: What Is It? How Can Your Agency Get Involved ?

Fall 2010 OCASI Professional Development Conference

November 4, 2010

Overview

1. Refugees – facts and figures 2. What is private sponsorship of refugees? 3. Who can be a sponsor? 4. What are the responsibilities of a private

sponsoring group?5. Who can be sponsored?6. How your agency can participate in private

sponsorship?7. Salient elements of the program8. Support available 9. Questions and answers

Refugees - facts and Figures

• End of 2009 43.3 million forcibly displaced people

• 5.5 million refugees were in protracted situations– In 21 different countries

• Developing countries host 80% of the world’s refugees

• 41% of refugees and asylum seekers were children under 18

*2009 UNHCR Global Trends http://www.unhcr.org/4c11f0be9.html

How do refugees come to Canada?

Inland processing

Person arrives in Canada, and makes a refugee claim

Overseas processing

Refugees processed overseasCan be: – Government Assisted Refugees (GAR) – Privately Sponsored Refugees (PSR)– Joint Assistance Sponsorship (JAS)

Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program

• PSR is a commitment by a group of individuals to sponsor and support persons, determined to be refugees under Canadian law.

The Objectives of PSR are to:• Encourage the Canadian public’s involvement

in the resettlement of refugees.

• To continue a tradition of dedication by the voluntary sector to resettle and integrate refugees into Canadian society.

Who can sponsor?

Groups of Five

Community Sponsors

Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs)

Group of FiveAny group of five Canadian citizens or

permanent residents can sponsor refugees.

Community SponsorsAny organization, association or corporation, does not have to be

incorporated, can sponsor up to two refugee families per year (finances permitting).

Sponsorship Agreement HolderAn organization that has signed a Sponsorship Agreement

with the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration which allows them to participate in the resettlement of refugees

through the Private Sponsorship of Refugees program.

Who can be sponsored?

Eligibility - Do they meet one of Canada‘s

refugee definitions? - Do they have no other solutions?

Admissibility - Criminality and Security - Medical

What is the sponsor responsible for?

To provide the refugee during the sponsorship period (usually 12 months) with:

• reception• care• lodging and• settlement assistance for the sponsored

refugees in the expected community of settlement

*the sponsored refugee cannot access social assistance during the sponsorship period*

Sponsorship costsFamily

Size12 Months of

Income Support

Start-up Costs

Estimated Total Annual

Settlement Cost

1 $ 9,000 $ 2,800 $ 11,800

2 15,500 4,300 19,800

3 17,700 5,300 23,000

4 20,000 6,000 26,000

5 22,500 7,200 29,700

6 24,500 8,000 32,500

Additional member

1,550 1,000 2,500

How can your agencies get involved?

Indirect:

• Providing assistance to groups who are participating in private sponsorship of refugees

• Promoting the program and encouraging Canadian citizens to sponsor refugees

How can your agencies get involved?

Direct:• Sponsor as a Community Sponsor• Work with a SAH in your area to

sponsor refugees• Apply to become a SAH

Salient elements of PSR program

- Already resettle more than 200,000 refugees

- Response to various international crisis- Acts as an expression of international

solitary to refugee crisis - Allows groups to play a higher or

comparable role as some resettlement countries

National Context

Currently, the federal government is encouraging groups across Canada to participate in PSR.

Summer 2010, Federal Bill C11 was approved to:• Increase settlement spots by 2,500 annually (500

more spaces for Government Assisted Refugees and 2,000 more for Privately Sponsored Refugees.)

• Increase resources for overseas processing and the resettlement assistance program

Support Available

• Refugee Sponsorship Training Program – Website, e-mail, phone– Print and electronic materials– Training support

• Other organizations involved in the PSR program

THANK YOU!

For further information, visit our website at www.rstp.ca or

contact us:416-290-1700info@rstp.ca