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The Government of Ontario removing the child benefit from refugee families is a bad policy approach. This WILL increase homelessness and delay successful settlement. Here's why:
THREAD 1/5
THREAD 1/5
I'm currently wrapping up a research study exploring pathways of refugee families into emergency shelters. We interviewed families in shelters in London and Toronto. We wanted to understand how they ended up in shelter and if this could be prevented.
What we learned is that refugee families face administrative/bureaucratic barriers to accessing resources and in the meantime have no choice but to go to shelter. Access to income was one of the main challenges, but until now there have been opportunities.
It took some time but once families obtained social assistance and the child benefit most are able to promptly leave shelter and get into the rental market. This is good all around, it is less costly than keeping folks in shelter and improves the likelihood of positive settlement
The loss of the child benefit for most families will put rental rates out of reach for most. This means they will be stuck in emergency shelters until their claim is fully processed, which can take months to years if there are appeals.
This change will increase homelessness.
This change will increase homelessness.
