Even before the arrival of Ukrainians in the country, refugee aid organizations are struggling to meet the demand. In recent months, thousands of asylum seekers have set foot in Quebec via Roxham Road, and the pace does not seem to be slowing down.
Posted at 6:00 a.m.
“Before the opening of the border, we were able to meet almost all the demand. Since its opening, we have only served the most vulnerable asylum seekers, namely pregnant women and large families,” says Maryse Poisson, director of social initiatives at Collectif Bienvenue.
On November 21, after more than 20 months of pandemic-related closure, Roxham Road finally reopened. Thousands of refugees, anxiously waiting to come to Canada, have set foot in the country in just a few months.
“Since the opening of Roxham Road, there has definitely been a large influx of asylum seekers from different countries,” said Ms.me Fish. Between Nov. 21 and Jan. 13, 4,391 people claimed asylum in Canada, including 1,218 children, the Border Services Agency reported, according to figures obtained in response to a freedom of information request. The majority of the refugees came from Haiti, Mexico, Nigeria, Congo, Colombia and Turkey, says Ms.me Fish.
More specifically, a third of them came from Haiti. “It’s a huge number of people who have needs and who require services. We receive between 30 and 40 people every day,” says Marjorie Villefranche, general manager of the Maison d’Haïti.
Lack of speakers
Upon their arrival in Quebec, hundreds of refugees are taken care of by the Regional Program for the Reception and Integration of Asylum Seekers (PRAIDA), which offers them accommodation and support. This is the case for just over 850 people at present, the CIUSSS du Centre-Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal said on Wednesday.
The other arrivals are instead accommodated in hotels in the greater Montreal area funded by the federal government. “These asylum seekers in hotels do not necessarily have access to the same services, such as social workers on site,” says Ms.me Fish.
There are many asylum seeking families in these hotels who are left to their own devices to find the right information, particularly on access to services, social assistance, health care. It’s a big problem.
Maryse Poisson, director of social initiatives at Collectif Bienvenue
Specialized responders are essential when refugees arrive, she argues. “It’s worth gold, because they are families with a lot of questions and stress when they arrive. »
The lack of services in federal hotels is felt, she argues. “What we see with the families who have been housed in federal hotels is that they did not have access to all this information and therefore they will integrate their apartment being more or less aware of the services they have access to,” she says.
In addition, Immigration Canada is having difficulty meeting the demand currently, she observes. “There are families who would have the potential to work and contribute to society, but the delays are so long that they are kept in the precariousness of social assistance. It’s a big issue right now,” she said.
act fast
When asylum seekers have left their place of temporary accommodation, the organizations must work twice as hard.
Need to find accommodation quickly [aux demandeurs d’asile], and it is not easy in Montreal. Then you have to find furniture, because they come with only a suitcase. It is also necessary to enroll the children in school and fill out the papers with the parents.
Marjorie Villefranche, general manager of the Maison d’Haïti
For its part, the Welcome Collective distributes free furniture and essential items to newcomers in need. “Families often leave accommodation sites to sleep on the floor. There are so many asylum seekers who would like furniture. We do our best to deliver it to as many families as possible, ”adds Mme Fish.
Their organization relies on donations from the public. “Our truck is on the road all week to pick up furniture donations from individuals or businesses, such as restaurants,” explains Ms.me Fish.
The collective has the capacity to serve a dozen families per week. With the growing demand, the organization must limit itself to the most vulnerable families, such as pregnant women, who represent a large proportion of refugees. “For pregnant women, we need cribs, strollers and baby sets. It’s also quite a challenge to find them access to obstetric care,” she says.
The arrival of Ukrainian refugees could increase this demand. “Like all organizations that work with refugees, we are mobilizing to be ready to help as soon as they arrive,” concludes Ms.me Poisson, recalling that the organization is always looking for donations of furniture or essential items.