Syrian Refugee

Family Sponsorship Proposal

AZ-ZAHRAA HUMANITARIAN GROUP

our goal

To sponsor a Syrian refugee family under the

name SMCBC through the Government of

Canada’s refugee sponsorship program.

• To deliver this initiative through the newly formed Az-Zahraa Humanitarian Group.

• To involve all members of the community in this project.

sponsorship basics

SPONSORSHIP CAN BE UNDERTAKEN IN 3 WAYS:

• 5 or more Canadian citizens, or permanent

residents

Group of 5

Sponsorship

• An organization, association or corporationCommunity

Sponsorships

• An organization that has signed sponsorship agreements with the Gov’t of

Canada to help support refugees from abroad when they resettle in Canada.

• Can sponsor refugees themselves or work with others in the community

• May be eligible for partial financial assistance from the government

Sponsorship

Agreement

Holders

(SAHs)

1

Group of 5 eligibility:

• Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident• Be 18 years old and over • Live in the same community where the refugee is

expected to settle• Provide a settlement plan and prove that it has the

money to sponsor a refugee for one year

Community Sponsorship eligibility:

• A community sponsor can be:• an organization,• an association or• a corporation

• The organization, association or corporation does not have to be incorporated under federal or provincial law

SAH eligibility:

• Organization must be incorporated (legally created organization)• Assumes full responsibility of managing sponsorships• Must be located in the community where the refugee is

expected to settle• Can authorize other groups in the community to sponsor

refugees under its agreement• Must sign a sponsorship agreement with the Minister of

Citizenship and Immigration• Process to become a SAH takes 2-4 months • Expected to sponsor 2-3 refugee cases per year

All sponsorships must agree to give:

• emotional & financial support to the

refugee(s) for the full sponsorship period

(usually one year)

2

BLENDED VISA OFFICE-REFERRED PROGRAM

• Matches refugees identified for resettlement by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) with private sponsors in Canada

• Goal - to engage in a 3-way partnership among the Govtof Canada, the UNHCR, & private sponsors

• Much quicker process

• We can look at refugee profiles and seek further info and ultimately choose our refugee family

Cont…

• Govt of Canada will provide up to 6 months of income support through the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP), while private sponsors will provide another 6 months of financial support and up to a year of social and emotional support

• Refugees are covered under the Interim Federal Health Program for the duration of the sponsorship (one year), in addition to provincial health coverage

Cont…

For Syrian refugees:

As of September 25, 2015, all groups including SAHs, Groups of Five and Community sponsors who wish to sponsor Syrian refugees will be able to apply to sponsor through the Blended Visa Office-Referred Program.

As of Sept 19, 2015, the Government of

Canada has temporarily exempted

Syrians and Iraqi refugees from the

requirement to provide proof of refugee

status in order to be sponsored.

• WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

3

sponsorship responsibilities

1Private sponsors normally support their

sponsored refugees by:

• Providing the cost of food, rent and household utilities, and other day-to-day living expenses

• Providing clothing, furniture and other household goods

• Locating interpreters

• Selecting a family physician & dentist

• Assisting with applying for provincial health-care coverage

• Enrolling children in school & adults in language training

• Introducing newcomers to people with similar personal interests

• Providing orientation with regard to banking services, transportation, etc.

• Helping in the search for employment

Refugees are usually given a loan from

the Government of Canada to pay for

their medical examinations overseas

and their transportation to Canada

• Sponsorship groups may be asked to cover a portion of, or all of these costs.

2

financial responsibilities

Assumptions for budget (on next slide)

• Family of 4 - 2 adults (ages 30-50) and 2 minors- (ages 7-18)

• Required support - 12 months

• All home and personal purchases are brand new ( i.e.: clothesfurniture/equipment etc.); in-kind donations/gifts not included

• Employment income and Gov’t assistance not included

• Rent is based on a 2-bedroom basement suit in Surrey or Richmond ($1000/month)

• Transportation: monthly bus passes for each person (2 adults, 2 concession)

Budget

EXPENSES (1 yr): Family Resettlement

Food $5,869.08

Shelter/Rent $12,000.00

Household operations $513.06

Household furnishings/equipment $1,661.58

Clothing $1,299.99

Transportation $2,819.28

Personal care $814.47

Miscellaneous 200.94

One-time expenses:

Airfare & Legal fees $5,000.00

Medical exams $600.00

Cash Reserve $5,000.00

EXPENSES – Local Initiatives $10,000.00

Estimated Annual Expenses $45,778.40

Revenue:

Fundraising events $35,000.00

Individual Donors $10,778.40

Balance $0.00

tax-deductible receipts

If we wish to sponsor a family that we know already

(i.e. maybe one that has been recommended by WF

or someone else), then we are not allowed to issue

tax receipts. We can issue tax receipts if we are

assigned a family.

organizations in lower mainland for

support and assistance

• Muslim Food Bank

• Kinbrace Refugee Support and Housing

• Settlement Orientation Services

• Immigrant Services Society of BC

sponsorship process

1. Decide on Sponsorship structure (Group of 5, Community, SAH)

2. Begin to raise funds

3. Complete sponsorship eligibility/assessment

4. Complete sponsorship application

5. Submit to CIC

6. Receive signed Undertaking from CIC

7. Refugee(s) selected, screened, granted VISA

8. Sponsorship group notified