Information on the Syrian Refugee Family Sponsorship
Click here to follow the progress on our blog page.
The Board of the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa (FUCO) agreed to allow its Refugee Working Group to raise funds both within and outside the congregation to support a Syrian refugee family. Below are the answers to some questions you may have.
If you have any questions or would like more information on our work, please contact: syrianrefugees@firstunitarianottawa.ca
If you have any questions or would like more information on our work, please contact: syrianrefugees@firstunitarianottawa.ca
Questions and Answers
Updates
Can I still make a donation to the FUCO fund to sponsor a Syrian refugee family?
Through the amazing generosity of many people from within and outside our congregation, we now have sufficient funds to sponsor our three families.
Other local organizations who would welcome your donations include:
United for Refugees
and settlement agencies such as:
OCISO,
Catholic Centre for Immigrants
Jewish Family Services.
What else is needed?
We may still need more people to give volunteer time over the course of at least a year to help settle the family in Ottawa. Tasks range from finding housing, to getting the children registered at school, to getting the family to medical appointments, to helping ease adaptation to our culture, and more. In-kind donations would also be appreciated.
Background
Why is the FUCO doing this?
Syrian refugees desperately need help and supporting Syrian refugees is consistent with the principles of our congregation. The principles that particularly apply in our case are:
How much money is needed to sponsor a family and what does this money cover?
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) requires at least $27,000 be raised, including “in kind” donations, for a family of four – but the Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC), the umbrella organization for Canadian Unitarian congregations, says that $40,000 is more realistic. The CUC also suggests that another $3,000 is needed for every additional family member.
What is the FUCO’s responsibility?
Submitting the sponsorship undertaking means the congregation is legally responsible for the financial and moral support of the refugee family for one year as the congregation helps the family integrate into Canadian society.
The congregation is not responsible for any debts the family may incur in Canada or before coming to Canada (e.g. travel loans).
There are several mechanisms by which a refugee family can be sponsored in Canada. What one will we use?
We will be applying under the Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAH) mechanism. In our case, the holder of the Sponsorship Agreement is the CUC. Approval of sponsorship applications is faster when a SAH is involved. Our family will be identified from a government list of approved Syrian refugees under what is called the Blended Visa Office-Referred Program (BVOR). Choosing a refugee family from this list entitles the congregation to some financial help for the family from the federal government.
When will the family arrive in Ottawa?
Families sponsored from the approved list take about 2 – 4 months to arrive from the time the government approves our sponsorship application. This application includes information on how costs will be covered, a settlement plan and the role of volunteers.
-We currently have one family that has arrived and are settling in.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT!
Updates
Can I still make a donation to the FUCO fund to sponsor a Syrian refugee family?
Through the amazing generosity of many people from within and outside our congregation, we now have sufficient funds to sponsor our three families.
Other local organizations who would welcome your donations include:
United for Refugees
and settlement agencies such as:
OCISO,
Catholic Centre for Immigrants
Jewish Family Services.
What else is needed?
We may still need more people to give volunteer time over the course of at least a year to help settle the family in Ottawa. Tasks range from finding housing, to getting the children registered at school, to getting the family to medical appointments, to helping ease adaptation to our culture, and more. In-kind donations would also be appreciated.
Background
Why is the FUCO doing this?
Syrian refugees desperately need help and supporting Syrian refugees is consistent with the principles of our congregation. The principles that particularly apply in our case are:
- The inherent dignity and worth of every person;
- Justice, equity and compassion in human relations; and
- The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all.
How much money is needed to sponsor a family and what does this money cover?
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) requires at least $27,000 be raised, including “in kind” donations, for a family of four – but the Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC), the umbrella organization for Canadian Unitarian congregations, says that $40,000 is more realistic. The CUC also suggests that another $3,000 is needed for every additional family member.
What is the FUCO’s responsibility?
Submitting the sponsorship undertaking means the congregation is legally responsible for the financial and moral support of the refugee family for one year as the congregation helps the family integrate into Canadian society.
The congregation is not responsible for any debts the family may incur in Canada or before coming to Canada (e.g. travel loans).
There are several mechanisms by which a refugee family can be sponsored in Canada. What one will we use?
We will be applying under the Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAH) mechanism. In our case, the holder of the Sponsorship Agreement is the CUC. Approval of sponsorship applications is faster when a SAH is involved. Our family will be identified from a government list of approved Syrian refugees under what is called the Blended Visa Office-Referred Program (BVOR). Choosing a refugee family from this list entitles the congregation to some financial help for the family from the federal government.
When will the family arrive in Ottawa?
Families sponsored from the approved list take about 2 – 4 months to arrive from the time the government approves our sponsorship application. This application includes information on how costs will be covered, a settlement plan and the role of volunteers.
-We currently have one family that has arrived and are settling in.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT!
