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Thursday, July 24, 2008
The Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP)
Every year millions of people around the world are displaced by war, famine and civil and political unrest. Others are forced to flee their countries in order to escape the risk of death and torture.
By early 2002 the number of refugees of concern for the United Nation’s High Commissioner for the Refugees (UNHCR) was 19.8 million; roughly one out of every 300 people on earth! Over 70% of these people are women and children.
The UNHCR had designed several programs to help these people. One of the programs of the UNHCR is the Resettlement Assistance Program. Under the agreement with third countries, the refugee cases are processed in the local visa offices and than refugees are sent to those countries.
Canada is one of the active partners of this agreement. Each year Canada welcomes approximately 7,200 immigrants from around the world. These categories of newcomers are called “Government-Assisted Refugees”. A big number of these refugees (2200) are entering the province of Ontario.
By contributing into the RAP Program, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) selects refugees who are seeking resettlement in Canada. Before accepting a person as a refugee, CIC will make sure that person cannot go to their country of nationality or usual residence or stay in the country where they have been given asylum. CIC will also look to see if there is another country where refugees can resettle. Persons selected for resettlement undergo medical, security and criminal screening. They must also show that they will eventually be able to re-establish themselves in Canada.
The Resettlement Assistance Program was launched in Hamilton in 2001.
The objective of the Resettlement Assistance Program in Hamilton is to provide Government Assisted Refugees with
financial support, temporary accommodation,
information and orientation and essential services as well as early settlement and successful adaptation in the City of Hamilton. This includes:
Orientation Sessions:
- RAP
- Housing
- Health
- Family Life
- Employment
- Services in the Community
- Living in Canada
- Transportation- Services in the Community
- Financial
- Housing Management
Housing Activities:
- Showing Apartments
- Signing Lease
- Ordering Furniture
- Taxi Arrangement
- Overseeing moving out of the hotel
- Shopping
- Apply for utilities, Telephone
/ Cable
Other Program Activities:
- Referral to other settlement services
- Follow-up orientation sessions
- Home Visits
- Life Skill Support activities
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