Multicultural Association of Fredericton Inc.
WWW.MCAF.NB.CA
Multicultural Association of Fredericton Inc.
CHRA Webinar
November 12, 2015
A Path to Home: Supporting Housing
Needs for Newcomers Program
Funded by the Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Fredericton Site
WWW.MCAF.NB.CA
Multicultural Association of Fredericton Inc.
A Not for Profit Community Organisation
MCAF Mission Statement
“To celebrate strength in diversity by enabling
the meaningful exchange and full community
participation among people of all backgrounds
and circumstances”
WWW.MCAF.NB.CA
Multicultural Association of Fredericton Inc.
MCAF’s 2014-‘15 Programs & Activities - Highlights
- Resettlement Assistance Program (84 GARs from 7 source countries)
- Welcome Reception House provides refugees with a warm welcoming first
home in Canada.
- Coordinated Fredericton Community Response to the Resettlement of
Syrian Refugees.
- Settlement Services (968 newcomers from 30 countries).
- English as an Additional Language Training (552 newcomers)
WWW.MCAF.NB.CA
Multicultural Association of Fredericton Inc.
MCAF’s 2014–‘15 Programs & Activities-Highlights
- The Francophone Liaison Program. 213 newcomers from 13 countries
received settlement and francisation services to settle in Fredericton’s
francophone community.
- Employment services worked with newcomers to find 90 jobs and to start 9
businesses.
- On-site Job Fair linked 196 newcomers with 29 employers and training
institutions.
- Computer Lab Income Tax clinics assisted 448 newcomers to file their
income tax.
WWW.MCAF.NB.CA
Multicultural Association of Fredericton Inc.
MCAF’s 2014-‘15 Programs & Activities - Highlights
- Children and Youth programs (316 newcomer children and youth, from 44
countries)
homework clubs, after school program, sports, music, art, photo voice & dance
enhancing their self-esteem, leadership skills, sense of belonging and
opportunities to share their cultures.
- Rainbow of Cultures Summer Day Camp for children aged 6-12 years. (55
children from 14 countries)
- Newcomer Scholarship Fund, awarded three scholarships of $1,000 each to
three newcomer youth bringing the total scholarships awarded to 7.
WWW.MCAF.NB.CA
Multicultural Association of Fredericton Inc.
MCAF’s 2014-‘15 Programs & Activities- Highlights
- Diversity and Inclusion in Schools partnered with local schools, delivering
activities for 7,479 participants, enhancing cross-cultural education and
facilitating a welcoming inclusive environment in schools and in the broader
community.
- Coordination of the 7th annual Cultural Expressions Festival
Namaste from the Top of the World, featuring Bhutanese-Nepali cultures
attended by over 4,430 people.
WWW.MCAF.NB.CA
Multicultural Association of Fredericton Inc.
MCAF’s 2014-‘15 Programs & Activities- Highlights
Through
A Path to Home (APTH):
Supporting Housing Needs for Newcomers Program
MCAF works with community partners to enhance newcomers’
access to appropriate and sustainable housing.
WWW.MCAF.NB.CA
A Path to Home – MCAF
From October 2012 to November 2015
Fredericton APTH Program has worked with
114 Permanent Residents
1. Bangladesh
2. Bhutan
3. Burundi
4. DR Congo
5. Ethiopia
6. Iran
7. Iraq
8. Jordan
9. South Korea
10. Ukraine
16%
1%
2%
81%
GAR
PV2
SW
FC
WWW.MCAF.NB.CA
A Path to Home: Supporting Housing Needs for Newcomers Program
A Path to Home - MCAF
Program Participants
• Up to 20 years of refugee life/camp experience
• Chronic health conditions such as: diabetes & mental
health/trauma
• Limited or no formal education, do not read & write in
any language; English literacy class participants
• Challenging family dynamics
• Young single mails without family supports
• Young single mothers
• Seniors
WWW.MCAF.NB.CA
A Path to Home: Supporting Housing Needs for Newcomers Program
A Path to Home - MCAF
Program Participants
• 65-105% of their household income went towards rent
• Large Immigration Transportation Loans
• $1,533-$2,200 per person
• $4,000-$10,000 per family
• Provincial social assistance & food bank recipients
• Unemployed farmers, retailers, stay at home mothers, primary,
high school and university students, community worker,
carpenter, computer science degree holder, nurse, midwife, cook,
artist, etc.
WWW.MCAF.NB.CA
A Path to Home: Supporting Housing Needs for Newcomers Program
Multicultural Association of Fredericton Inc.
Needs Assessment Tool
P.A.T.H. - Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope
WWW.MCAF.NB.CA
A Path to Home: Supporting Housing Needs for Newcomers Program
Multicultural Association of Fredericton Inc.
P.A.T.H - Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope
WWW.MCAF.NB.CA
A Path to Home: Supporting Housing Needs for Newcomers Program
Multicultural Association of Fredericton Inc.
Workshops & Group Activities
Healthcare resources in Fredericton,
•clinics, hospitals, pharmacies, over counter
medications, first aid, emergency, sexual health
•Mental Health & Addictions Services,
• Drugs kNOw Program
• Winter preparedness, Influenza vaccine
•Canada Food Guide & Access to healthy food on a
budget ,
•Smart food choices for hyperactive children
WWW.MCAF.NB.CA
A Path to Home: Supporting Housing Needs for Newcomers Program
Multicultural Association of Fredericton Inc.
Workshops & Group Activities
• Financial Literacy training
•Post Graduate Education Opportunities
•Pre-Job Fair Training Sessions for immigrant adults &
youth: job applications, resumes, networking, job
interviews, social media etc.
•Employment opportunities through Social Enterprise
SPADE (Sunrise Partnership for Agriculture Development
and Education field trip
WWW.MCAF.NB.CA
A Path to Home: Supporting Housing Needs for Newcomers Program
Multicultural Association of Fredericton Inc.
Workshops & Group Activities
•Support Groups
•Immigrant Men’s Group
•Immigrant Women’s Group
•Parenting in Canada
•Suits for at risk men transitioning to work force,
Moore’s Suit Drive
•First Aid & CPR training
•Babysitter’s training course for youth
WWW.MCAF.NB.CA
A Path to Home: Supporting Housing Needs for Newcomers Program
Multicultural Association of Fredericton Inc.
Employment Activities
•
•
•
•
•
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One-on-one employment preparation
Group orientation sessions
Job Fair for newcomers on site
Connections with employers
Workplace Essential Skills Program –WES
Train the Trainer Initiative
WWW.MCAF.NB.CA
A Path to Home: Supporting Housing Needs for Newcomers Program
Multicultural Association of Fredericton Inc.
Activities for children & youth
• After school programs/activities
• Homework clubs, Music classes, Sports
activities, Summer day camps
• Preparations and links to summer & part time
jobs
WWW.MCAF.NB.CA
A Path to Home: Supporting Housing Needs for Newcomers Program
Multicultural Association of Fredericton Inc.
Fredericton Partners include:
•Fredericton Social Development Department
•Income assistance & Subsidized Housing
•Workplace Essential Skills (WES)
•Fredericton Area Food Initiatives
•Community Food Smart Bags Program
•Greener Village Community Food Center
•Community Harvest Gardens Program
•Capital City Cycles
WWW.MCAF.NB.CA
A Path to Home: Supporting Housing Needs for Newcomers Program
Multicultural Association of Fredericton Inc.
Fredericton Partners include:
• Horizon Health Network / Local Community Relations Advisory Committee
• UNB Nursing Faculty/ Fredericton Community Downtown Health Center
• Fredericton Wellness Network
• Liberty Lane Inc. Second Stage Housing Program and Family Violence
Prevention & Outreach to women and children who have experienced
family violence.
• Chrysalis House, Youth in Transition
• Partners for Youth Inc.
•City of Fredericton, Age Friendly Community Committee
WWW.MCAF.NB.CA
A Path to Home: Supporting Housing Needs for Newcomers Program
MCAF-A Path to Home
Community Capacity Building, Partnerships, Networking
Fredericton Community Action Group on Homelessness (CAGH)
Fredericton based network of:
•civic leaders,
•frontline nonprofits &
•government liaisons
committed to ending homelessness through comprehensive community
collaboration, planning and engagement.
http://www.cagh.ca/site/index.php/component/tags/tag/5-homelessness
WWW.MCAF.NB.CA
A Path to Home: Supporting Housing Needs for Newcomers Program
MCAF-A Path to Home
Community Capacity Building, Partnerships, Networking
CAGH Priority Areas
1. Coordinating the homeless-serving system
2. Enhancing supports using the Housing First approach
3. Increasing affordable housing options
4. Meeting the needs of priority groups including: women, children, youth, seniors,
Aboriginal people, people with disabilities, & newcomers - CAGH Champions
Working Group
5. Improving system integration and service delivery
6. Leveraging research and data to support ending homelessness
7. Catalyzing cross-sectoral leadership & engagement
WWW.MCAF.NB.CA
A Path to Home: Supporting Housing Needs for Newcomers Program
Multicultural Association of Fredericton Inc.
Community Capacity Building, Partnerships, Networking
• Cultural Competency Workshops
• Refugee Resettlement Workshop offered in
partnership with the UNHCR
• Home Depot
•Basic home repairs and wall painting workshops,
•MCAF received Community Impact Grant ($5000)
WWW.MCAF.NB.CA
A Path to Home: Supporting Housing Needs for Newcomers Program
MCAF- A Path to Home
Community Capacity Building, Partnerships, Networking
New Brunswick Not for Profit Housing Association (NBNPHA)
•Annual Conference (May 7-9, 2015) - Gathering of over 200 housing
providers and decision makers from across the spectrum of affordable
housing in New Brunswick
•Annual Conference (May 5-7, 2016) Conference Planning Committee
Canadian Housing and Renewal Association (CHRA)
• National Congress on Housing and Homelessness (April 29-May 1, 2015)
•APTH: Supporting Housing Needs for Newcomers Webinar (Nov. 12, 2015)
WWW.MCAF.NB.CA
A Path to Home: Supporting Housing Needs for Newcomers Program
Multicultural Association of Fredericton Inc.
What works well at MCAF
• On-site settlement services including
language classes, employment services, francophone liaison,
children & youth programs etc.
• On-site Interpretation/Translation
MCAF settlement staff presently speak 33 languages
• Creative transportation options for clients
• Extensive organisational experience with newcomers
• Strong community partnerships further enhanced by
APTH pilot activities.
WWW.MCAF.NB.CA
A Path to Home: Supporting Housing Needs for Newcomers Program
Multicultural Association of Fredericton Inc.
THANK YOU!
Ljiljana Kalaba
Coordonnatrice de programme - A Path to Home - Program Coordinator
Multicultural Association of Fredericton Inc.
L'Association Multiculturelle de Fredericton Inc.
rue 28 Saunders Street, Fredericton, NB, E3B 1N1
[email protected]
phone:
(506) 452-0667
cell phone:
(506) 476-3874
WWW.MCAF.NB.CA
A Path to Home: Supporting Housing Needs for Newcomers Program