United for Refugees campaign hands out $869,000 to help Syrians new to Ottawa

The United for Refugees campaign, whichlaunched last October to raise money tohelp refugees fleeing the crisis in Syria,will disburse the $860,000 raised so far to 10 Ottawa organizations and 16 private sponsorship groups.

• CBC Ottawa's Syrian refugee coverage
• United for Refugees starts taking funding applications
• Refugee 613, United for Refugees programs unveiled at Ottawa City Hall

Three-quarters of the fundingwill go toward settlement projects, such as language and employment training. Jewish Family Services, for instance, will offermental healthcounsellingto children.

The Ottawa Food Bank will useits $35,000 to meet a growing demand for food.

"We're estimating at this point between 400 and 600 people are turning to food banks across the city specificallyfrom the Syrian refugee group," said Michael Maidment, executive directorof the Ottawa Food Bank.

The other quarter of the amount raised, meanwhile, will go toprivate sponsors who planto bring 89 refugeesto Ottawa.

BasharAlhalabiwas a dermatologist in Damascus, but after bombs started falling and he started having nightmares about his three children being kidnapped, the family fled toOttawa in 2013.

Alhalabi will receive fundingto sponsorhis sister, Nawal, as well as her husband, son and daughter. They left their home in Syria last year and are currently in Lebanon.

"Because of your help, her kids will be able to play outside and go to school safely," saidAlhalabi.

Fundraising to continue

United for Refugees is a partnership among the United Way of Ottawa, the Community Foundation of Ottawa, the City of Ottawa and Refugee 613 that was launched at a town hall meeting last fall.

"We promised to get every dollar we received out the door and into the community where it's needed,"said Michael Allen, the president andCEO of United WayOttawa.

A volunteercommitteemade up ofrepresentatives from community groups looked over the52 funding applications that came in. Half of the applicantsended up receiving funds.

"There's many, many more needs to comeso we'regoing to continue tofundraise," said Allen.

City staff and settlement service providers acknowledge there could be pressure on community services inDecember or January, when a large number ofgovernment-sponsored refugees will lose federal support and could seek Ontario's social assistance.

Ottawa has received more than 1,500 refugees since December, of whom 1,100 are assisted by the federal government and more than halfare school-aged. Organizations expect several hundred more refugees to arrive in the city before the end of the year.

The ten organizations receiving money for 18 settlement projects are:

• Anglican Diocese of Ottawa.
• Helping with Furniture.
• Jewish Family Services.
• Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization (OCISO).
• Ottawa Food Bank.
• Refugee 613.
• Rideau-RockcliffeCommunity Resource Centre.
• Somali Centre for Family Services.
• University of Ottawa's Refugee Sponsorship Support Program.
• World Skills Employment Centre.