How to help Syrian refugees coming to B.C.

The province'sleading immigrant services organization is asking British Columbianstohelp settle thousands of Syrian refugees expectedin the next six to eight weeks.

The new federal Liberal government announced its plans to settle 25,000 Syrian refugees in Canada by the end of the year, with nearly 3,000 of them coming to B.C.

Immigrant Settlement Services of B.C.is describing it as thelargest refugee relocation movement in B.C. history. Normally, it says, the province takes in up to 900 government-assistedrefugees per year.

"We're talking about a 360 per cent increase in a matter of weeks, and we're bracing ourselves to respond," said Chris Friesen, the organization's director.

Friesensaid, historically, refugees go to five primary communities in Metro Vancouver: Surrey,Coquitlam,Burnaby, Vancouver, and New Westminster.

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How you can help

ISSofBC islooking for assistance in the following areas:

• Housing
• Employment leads
• Settlement volunteers

Friesensaid many of the refugees will likely start off in emergency housing settlements like military bases, reception centres and church basements.

He said finding affordable, permanent housing is expected to be one of the agency's biggest challenges the agency is looking for up to 1,500 affordable housing units in Metro Vancouver.

During their first year in Canada, government-sponsored refugees receiveassistance from the federal government. For a family of four, that will come to $1,349 per month which is meant tocoverfood, shelter and transportation needs.

Thosewhocan help or are looking for more information can contact ISSofBC by:

• Phoning 1-844-447-9742.
• Emailingrefugee.crisis@issbc.org
• Visiting the ISSofBC website

Volunteers and counsellorsneeded

Adel Othman arrived in B.C. from Syriafour years ago. He spends a lot of volunteertime helping other refugees get settled.

"Nobody likes to leave theircountry," said Othman,"but people need safety and freedom."

Besides housing,there's a need for mentorslike Othmanto help get people settled and navigate their way through various bureaucracies.

There is also a need forregistered clinical counsellors.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is often a big issue for refugees it's estimated onethird will suffer fromPTSD, andas many as two thirdswill suffer from some sort of mental health issue.

FriesensaidISSofBCgot61 housing offers, 90 volunteer calls, and three job leads over the course of a single hour after its announcement on Tuesday.