City promoting need for rental housing for Syrian refugees

NEWS RELEASE - Distributed February 25, 2016 10:00 AM

Summary

The City of Nanaimo has convened a "Syrian Refugee Coordinating Support Committee" with the goal of assisting private sponsors and the Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society in aiding Syrian refugee families arriving in Nanaimo. As part of the outreach taking place, the City is promoting the need for ten or more three bedroom dwelling units that can be rented for under $1000 a month or five bedroom units for $1500.

Link to Strategic Plan: Taking responsibility to be an excellent municipal government.

Key Points

Families fleeing the war in Syria are being resettled in Nanaimo.
The City of Nanaimo is facilitating a coordinated response to support the effective integration of those families into our community.
There is a need for affordable rental housing of ten or more three to five bedroom units for Syrian refugee families.

Quotes

"Assisting the Syrian families arriving here to successfully integrate is really an opportunity to enrich our community; success in this context is measured by the connections these families establish in their neighbourhoods, schools and workplaces and with the broader community. Stable, affordable and appropriate housing will play a big part in that, and we are confident that our community can meet the challenge of providing that support."

John Horn

Social Planner

City of Nanaimo

Quick Facts

Private sponsor groups are expected to cover accommodation costs for their sponsored families for the first year while Government Assisted Refugees are provided with financial support equivalent to Income Assistance rates for one year.
Income Assistance rates amount to approximately $1500 per month for a family of two adults and five children, with about $900 of that allocated as the "shelter portion".

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Contact:

John Horn

Social Planner

250-755-4491

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