Hamilton will get all the help it needs, says refugee coordinator

The federal government will give Hamilton ample support to helpSyrian refugees here, says Ottawa's top bureaucrat in charge of refugee resettlement.

Deborah Tunis, special co-ordinatorofSyrian refugee resettlement,says some of the $678 million allocated over six years will flow to Hamilton, specifically for needs such as housing, food and English language training. Tunis is one of the guests at a three-day Canadian Council for Refugees conference being held at the downtownSheraton Hotel.

"Hamilton's going to be a city where we expect Syrian refugees will be arriving," she said. "The organizations providing support will get the support to provide the services they need."

The government still hasn't announced how many of the 25,000 Syrian refugees expected by February will come to Hamilton. Early estimates are that about300 families will come here. But organizers still don't have a firm number.

Tunis said money will flow before the end of the year, and will "focus on helping some of that surge capacity, and supporting settlement assistance providers." Thebulk ofrefugees who arrive by the end of the year will likely beprivately sponsored, while those in the new year will be more government sponsored.

Wesley Urban Ministries is an official agency helping toresettle refugees. It's eagerly awaiting numbers, but is planning for "from 300 families upwards," said Stephanie Taylor, director of neighbourhood and newcomer services.

"I think we'll start seeing people in the next few weeks through the private sponsored (program), and into the new year, we'll start seeing more of the government assisted refugees."

All levels of government have been meeting to discuss how to ready local services, from social housing to language support.

More than 350 people are attending the fall consultation at the Sheraton.

samantha.craggs@cbc.ca | @SamCraggsCBC