Pathways to Housing: The Experiences of Sponsored Refugees and Refugee Claimants in Accessing Permanent Housing in Toronto

Abstract

In contrast to many new immigrants, refugees normally have limited financial resources upon arrival in a new country. Consequently, most refugees need some form of assistance in accessing good-quality, safe and affordable housing. This paper evaluates the assumption that refugee claimants in Toronto experience a much more difficult pathway to housing than sponsored refugees. The housing trajectories of a sample of refugees are examined using semi-structured interviews. The results confirm that this sample of refugee claimants experienced a more difficult pathway to housing, at least in the initial stages of settlement. Over time, claimants improved their housing position and narrowed the gap with sponsored refugees.Résumé Contrairement à beaucoup de nouveaux immigrants, les réfugiés ont généralement des ressources financières limitées à leur arrivée dans un nouveau pays. Par conséquent, la plupart des réfugiés ont besoin d'aide pour accéder à un logement de qualité, sécuritaire et abordable. Cet article examine l'hypothèse selon laquelle les revendicateurs du statut de réfugié à Toronto doivent faire face à plus d'obstacles dans l'obtention d'un logement que les réfugiés parrainés. Les trajectoires résidentielles d'un échantillon de réfugiés ont été examinées par le biais d'entrevues semi-dirigées. Les résultats confirment que l'échantillon de revendicateurs du statut de réfugié ont eu plus de difficultés à se trouver un logement, du moins en ce qui à trait à la période suivant leur arrivée. Avec le temps, les revendicateurs du statut de réfugié ont vu leur situation résidentielle s'améliorer et l'écart avec les réfugiés parrainés diminuer.

Impact of Remittance Behaviour on Immigrant Homeownership Trajectories: An Analysis of the Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants in Canada from 2001 to 2005

“…As a whole, housing trajectory deals with the notion of changes in housing status between lower and better housing over time. Usually, moving from renting to homeownership is considered as ideal (Edmonston 2004;Haan 2005;Teixeira 2007;Murdie 2008).…”

“…To this end, several studies have examined the importance of linkages between immigrant housing experiences and the process of integration in Canada (Murdie 2002(Murdie , 2008Murdie et al 2006;Mendez et al 2006;Haan 2007;Hiebert and Mendez 2008;Mendez 2009;Teixeira 2007Teixeira , 2009. Some studies suggest that inadequate housing may stall immigrant integration into Canadian society (Murdie et al 2006;Carter et al 2009).…”

“…For example, the potential influence of government in housing career has been examined in the literature and Dalton (2009) suggests that policy orientation of government is important in influencing housing prices particularly affordable housing. Vulnerable groups including refugees and immigrants with low incomes depend on such facilities and the limited availability of affordable housing compels immigrants to meet their housing needs at market rates which are generally expensive in their new destinations (Hulchanski 1997;Murdie 2008). This restricts immigrants to neighbourhoods with cheap and substandard housing (Teixeira 2006) thereby hindering immigrant integration as a whole.…”

“…Access to social housing stock particularly by low income immigrant households has enormous influence on housing experience of immigrants (Carter et al 2009). Therefore, the reduction in social housing stock over the decades has pushed low income earners including refugees and immigrants into the housing markets where prices are determined by market forces (Skaburskis and Mok 2000;Bunting et al 2004;Murdie 2008). A recent study by Simone and Newbold (2014), suggests that overpriced housing markets in the most popular immigrant destinations in Canada (Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto) makes homeownership difficult.…”

“…It is important to note that this framework does not suggest housing and neighbourhood outcomes as a linear process with immigrants moving from lower and less desirable housing and location to better conditions. Although progression towards homeownership has been the trend (Haan 2005(Haan , 2007Murdie 2002Murdie , 2008Myers et al 1998;Renaud et al 2006;Teixeira 2009), recent evidence including Ley's work on millionaire migrants demonstrates the contrary (Ley 2011). Rather, the potential role of transnationalism in housing outcomes is the prime focus of the framework.…”