2.C Settlement and Integration
C.2 What arrangements are made for housing?
(vi) Do refugees have autonomy in choosing where to live?
How Canada Does It
Though sponsors are responsible for ensuring that refugees have appropriate and affordable permanent housing for their first year in Canada, refugees should have autonomy in deciding which location and type of housing they live in, subject to budgetary constraints. Sponsors should manage expectations carefully regarding the costs of living in their community, and ensure the refugees understand their budget for the sponsorship period. Sponsors must orient the refugees to their new community, amenities, and access to services. They must present housing options that are not only accessible financially, but also geographically to meet the refugees’ needs.
It is generally expected that privately sponsored refugees will live in the same community as their sponsors. However, as permanent residents, sponsored refugees have mobility rights, so they may sometimes choose to relocate to another community in Canada. This could lead to a sponsorship breakdown (see 2.D.3).
Refugees should have autonomy in deciding which location and type of housing they live in, within their budget. Sponsors should manage expectations carefully regarding the costs of living in their community, and ensure the refugees understand their budget for the sponsorship period. Sponsors should present housing options that are affordable but also accessible to necessary services such as language training, healthcare, schools, etc.
In some circumstances, refugees may decide to move out of their sponsoring group’s community during the sponsorship period. This may happen for various reasons – e.g. family or community ties in another part of the country or lack of employment opportunities. If the refugees relocate, the Government of Canada or the current sponsoring group may endeavor to find a replacement sponsoring group for the refugees in their new communities of settlement. If new sponsors cannot be found, refugees are able to access, depending on the circumstances, federal or provincial/municipal income support until they become self-sufficient (see 2,D.3).
A sponsorship breakdown ends the sponsorship undertaking and there are no negative consequences to the sponsors if they are not at fault for the breakdown. The Government of Canada will endeavor to find a replacement sponsoring group for the refugees in their new community of settlement. If new sponsors cannot be found, refugees are able to access, depending on the circumstances, federal or provincial/municipal income support until they become self-sufficient (see 2.D.3).