Afghan refugees asking for more support from Reception House
Some Afghan refugees who arrived in Waterloo Region over the past few months say they aren’t getting enough support from Reception House, the local agency in charge of resettling government-assisted refugees.
Sayed Salahuddin said he is grateful to be on Canadian soil since September 2021, calling it "a lifesaving experience."
He is staying at the motel with five of his family members.
“I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but we’re not getting the support and the attention that other refugees are getting in other parts of Canada,” said Salahuddin.
Some of the concerns he brought up are unclean rooms and not enough allowance. He claims the allowance has been cut by up to 60 per cent.
Lynne Griffiths-Fulton, interim CEO at Reception House said they don’t set the amount and it should be unchanged.
“Clients are provided an allowance for every day they are in the hotel. Upon arrival, clients are given an initial supply of food, dishes, and other donations, as well as a cash allowance advance, followed by regular cheque top ups, along with start-up funds from IRCC, until they move into permanent accommodation. We do not set the allowance rate that people are receiving but it is $20 per person per day for the duration of their stay in temporary accommodation,” said Griffiths-Fulton.
Reception House claimed the rooms are supposed to be cleaned regularly, following COVID-19 protocols, and added that they're following up with hotel staff to ensure it is being done.
Reception House said they planned on taking in about 250 refugees all year but instead received about 200 people, all within the last three months.
“We are able to do what we can with the capacity that we have,” she said. “In three months we’ve received over three-quarters of our annual target.”
Salahuddin said he and many local refugees have been relying on community donations.
Linda Drouin, a Waterloo resident, has been volunteering to help with donations. Her home is filled with boxes.
“The generosity of the neighbourhoods here, of my friends. I received donations from a family in Ottawa,” Drouin said.
“We welcome the community support. We want to work with community members,” said Griffiths-Fulton.
Some local refugees also raised concerns about their kids not being able to attend schools in the region because they don't have a permanent address.
The Waterloo Region District School Board said in a statement to CTV News:
“The Waterloo District School Board is aware of the situation and we are working closely with our community partners to help get these families access to our schools as quickly as possible.
We are working with the task force to address this collaboratively and as effectively as possible and once again, to be part of a great initiative to welcome newcomers to our WRDSB community, as we did with Syrian refugees in 2016.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.