In search of a “home”: Comparing the housing challenges experienced by recently arrived Yazidi and Syrian refugees in Canada

Abstract

Housing that is affordable and appropriate is a necessity for successful integration for all newcomers. It is not uncommon for newcomers to Canada to report difficulties finding suitable, safe, and affordable housing for their families. For refugees, however, the challenges are sometimes greater. Settlement organizations and refugee sponsors experience various challenges in accommodating families with large numbers of children, but as our research shows, refugee groups have differing needs based on their culture, family composition, and experience of trauma. Using data collected from two recent studies, we identify and compare the housing needs of two newly arrived groups of refugees to Canada: Syrians and Yazidis from northern Iraq. All participants in our study have lived in Canada for 2 years or less and currently live in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, or Ontario. Data was collected either by face-to-face surveys (with Syrian participants) or unstructured interviews (with Yazidi women) conducted in Arabic, Kurmanji, or English. We discuss their experiences of living in resettlement centers and their transition to independent housing. In addition, we discuss how family composition and previous trauma influence their housing experiences with special attention to how increasing agency increases satisfaction with housing.

Procedures for claimant asylum within Canada, acceptance and rejection

“…Urban settings are often the most desired destination for newcomers to Canada because they provide greater opportunities for education, employment, and access to cultural and language-specific resources. However, they are also associated with high housing costs and limited housing stock for large families, which is a particularly difficult issue for GARs, who are more likely to arrive in larger family groups (see Chapter 8 in this volume; Bhattacharyya et al, 2020;Sherrell, 2017). Vacancy rates are low for rental units in most cities in Canada, rental costs are high, and there is limited access to subsidized housing .…”

Refugees and religious institutions in a mid‐size Canadian city

“…Many studies have explored the barriers and challenges faced by refugees; these may be personal, such as loss or change of identity, discrimination, loss of close bonds, and perceived lack of support (Ghahari et al, 2019). They may also be more structural and related to language issues, securing affordable and adequate housing, access to healthcare, and employment (Bhattacharyya et al, 2020; Oudshoorn et al, 2019; Silvius, 2016). Many refugees arrive in Canada in poor physical and mental health (Almoshmosh et al, 2019; Antonipillai et al, 2018; Beiser & Hou, 2016, 2017; Mahajan et al, 2021) and face barriers to accessing healthcare involving language, coverage, transportation to/from medical appointments, isolation, poverty, and availability of services (McKeary & Newbold, 2010).…”