Searching for Refugees

Coalition of groups interested in sponsoring refugees

• workshops for sharing information and topics which sponsors have raised are given with Refugee 613
• established by representatives of sponsorship groups consisting of many faiths, communities and private groups committed to increase help to the growing world population of displaced people
• workshops to share problems and advice held as needed

Communal house

• provides transitional housing for 18 months
• offers safety, accommodation, and individual support to its residents as they build resources necessary to live independently
• referrals to education, counselling, language instruction, employment training, job search programs, and programs and activities and workshops to assist in the integration and resettlement process

Educational, cultural, and recreational activities group, especially for seniors

• can help arrange telephone reassurance, meals, transportation and companionship to medical appointments, social events, etc. for seniors
• workshops and mentoring for youth
• landscaping, etc.
• social and cultural programs for families
• orientation services for new immigrants

Free legal advice

• provides services, without charge, to individuals affected by the crisis in Ukraine

Visit the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada IRCC website for more information

Office mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect people forced to flee their homes due to violence, conflict and persecution

• provides shelter, food, water, medical care, and other life-saving assistance to refugees around the world

Protection:

• observes Canadian asylum practices and policies in order to promote the highest standards of protection for refugees and asylum-seekers

Resettlement:

• works with the Canadian government and private sponsorship groups to help coordinate resettlement opportunities in Canada

Awareness:

• informs and educates Canadians about the situation of refugees and other displaced persons around the world

Fundraising:

• encourages the Canadian public and the Government of Canada to provide financial assistance to UNHCR programs worldwide

UNHCR Gift Shop:

• targeted donations toward essential resources for refugees such as shelter, medical care, education, nutrition,and clean water

COVID-19 (November 10, 2021): Provincial and legal aid offices closed to the public. Services still offered by phone. Visit the website for latest service updates.

Provides eligible clients with a certificate that covers the cost of hiring a lawyer to deal with serious types of civil or criminal cases

• helps with separation and child custody, but not divorce
• lawyers may or may not accept Legal Aid certificates

Services

• criminal legal issues
• domestic violence
• family legal issues
• mental health issues
• refugee and immigration legal issues
• legal clinics

Social service agency offering:

• Counseling services for families, couples, individuals
• Settlement services
• Youth crisis counseling
• Senior services
• Career and job assistance
• Supervised access program
• Formerly incarcerated persons program
• Social work

COVID-19 (October 7 2021): Services available by appointment only. Staff still available by phone. Many services now offered online and organisation offering volunteer outreach to isolated seniors to get food and medication to their homes. Call 613-235-4875 ext 181 to access emergency volunteer senior services (available in mandarin).

Settlement and community services agency

Orientation and Adaptation Services

• needs assessment and information and referral to community and social services
• support with finding housing, child care, registering children in school and health care
• orientation within the city
• help filling out government forms including housing and immigration sponsorship forms
• community support for Chinese newcomers through volunteer befriending, conversation circles to practice English
• workshops to reduce stress of adjusting to Canadian culture

Citizenship Preparation

• courses, tests and activities to help newcomers prepare for the citizenship test
• offered on site

Language Training Services

• enhanced language training
• sector specific language training and career orientation in the fields of accounting and IT
• individual counselling and action plan development
• volunteer placement
• mentoring
• networking
• resume and interview preparation

English as a Second Language/French as a Second Language

• English or French for Life and Work in Canada
• conversation and pronunciation classes

Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC)

• provides basic language skills in English or French
• courses offered part-time

Employment Counselling and Preparation

• job search preparation and training
• developing strong job search strategies and workplace communication skills
• job search workshops
• on site job search and preparation training courses

Employment Counselling

• resume help
• job readiness clinic
• employment counselling
• skills and career development
• help in establishing social and professional networks

Other Settlement Services

Library Settlement Partnership

• workshops
• one-to-one counselling
• settlement referrals
• English Conversation Club

Commissioner of Oaths

• commissioner of Oaths for verifying documents (only at 400 Cooper St)

Other Services
Counselling services workshops and support groups for:

• financial difficulties
• family conflicts
• mental health issues: depression, anxiety, stress, family relationships, caregiver stress, grief and loss, parenting, effective communication, workplace stress
• problems with the law
• racial discrimination
• family law
• legal problems
• sponsorship matters
• Convention Refugee support

University hub that delivers core programming in the area of refugee law and policy

• refugee law education
• research
• advocacy

University of Ottawa Refugee Assistance Project (UORAP):

• offers resources for community workers who are assisting refugee claimants, and for refugee lawyers

Refugee Law Research Team (RLRT): Team of law students involved in the refugee field that provides:

• legal research
• analysis
• strategic support
• high-level domestic and international refugee advocacy initiatives

COVID-19 (22 Aug 2022): Services offered remotely by phone and email and in person by appointment only.

Employment services that are designed specifically for newcomers, immigrants and refugees

• Information and orientation sessions, language and skills training to help facilitate access to employment.
• Employment needs assessments and referrals.
• Pre- and post-arrival information and referrals.
• Job search workshops and training, resume and interview coaching, employment counselling, assistance to establish social and professional networks to access employment opportunities.
• Enhanced language training courses and workplace language courses for eligible clients.
• Targeted recruitment and coaching and networking events with employers.
• Sector specific support for internationally trained professionals (ITPs).
• Specific programming for clients with lower language skills in English (CLB 3-5) and to clients with intermediate and advanced language skills in English (CLB 5 and above)
• Pre-screening and preparation of candidates for the Federal Internship for Newcomers (FIN) Program
• Job search workshops and some employment services in French

COVID-19 (26 Mar 2020): Due to COVID19, the centre is physically closed and regular programming is on hold until further notice * staff is still available via email and phone to support clients * free online computer classes available for women: permanent residents, convention refugees, caregivers * to register, contact iskrena@immigrantwomenservices.com or call 613-729-3145

Crisis Intervention and Counselling Service:

• crisis intervention
• short-and long-term counselling
• information, referral and support services
• support to victims of war and trauma
• support and information on various options for pregnant women

Orientation and Adaptation Services:

• needs assessment and information and referral to community and social services
• support with finding housing, child care, registering children in school and health care
• support with finding housing, child care, registering children in school and health care community support through volunteer befriending, conversation circles to practice English or French
• help with connecting to language classes
• workshops to reduce stress of adjusting to Canadian culture

Translation and interpretation services:

• professionally trained interpreters with expertise in health, community and social services: in person, by phone and Video Remote Interpreting (VRI)

Supportive counselling:

• short-term counselling to clients who encounter difficulties in adjusting to life in Canada and assistance in overcoming these challenges

Citizenship Preparation:

• courses, tests and activities to help newcomers prepare for the citizenship test: in class or online.

Employment Counselling and Preparation:

Job search preparation and training:

• developing strong job search strategies and workplace communication skills

Employment counselling:

• resume help, job readiness clinic, employment counselling, skills and career development and help in establishing social and professional networks

Job search workshop held monthly:

• free childcare
• referrals
• computer training

Support services for women who are victims or survivors of violence and/or newcomers and their families:

Support Groups:

• 10-week support group for women survivors of violence
• transportation
• child care
• language interpretation

Children Who Witness Violence Program (in partnership with Family Services à la famille Ottawa) offering:

• support and information to children who witness violence in the home
• individual counselling for childre
• family counselling
• art club for children and mother

Transitional and Housing Support Program for Abused Women

Other Settlement Services:

Language Interpreter Training:

• for culturally diverse women and men who fulfill the requirements for training
• for more information on this program, call the Language Interpretation service

Public education

Training and Outreach:

• Information sessions on Ottawa's diverse community

Anti-oppression training for service providers

Public education sessions on domestic violence for newcomers

Workshops for newcomer immigrant women on parenting in a new culture, legal information, social assistance etc.

Works with service providers and community partners to reach isolated newcomer immigrants and refugee women

COVID-19 (Jan 2021): Due to COVID19, all in-person services have been discontinued and office is closed to clients until further notice. Services can be accessed remotely by calling 613-232-9634. Volunteer program activities are suspended. See website for latest updates.

Community-based services for immigrants, refugees, and newcomers

Settlement Program (formerly Immigrant Settlement and Adaptation Program):

• orientation programs, language and skills training to help facilitate employment, and programs to welcome newcomers to the community
• may provide needs and eligibility assessments, pre- and post-arrival information and referral, job search and employment counselling, assistance to establish social and professional networks to promote community engagement, and assistance to access a range of settlement services

Reception House, Maison Sophia House:

• 90-bed facility that provides temporary accommodation, food and clothing
• orientation workshops facilitated with language translation and interpretation
• house search support
• multicultural children's program
• basic English classes
• referrals to government services and community organizations

Community Connections Program (formerly HOST Program):

• group activities for newly arrived immigrants and refugees of all ages to help orient them to their new community and establish social and professional networks * trained and experienced volunteer mentors assist, with focus on citizenship and civic engagement or skills and career development

Pastoral and Sponsorship Programs:

• works to ensure that the newcomer can find pastoral services in the faith group of their choice * promotes the involvement of faith groups in the Private Sponsorship program

Bruyère Centre for Immigrants:

• one-stop access to the services of several agencies, groups and organizations that operate out of the Centre.

Cultural Profiles:

• a series of booklets, each one introduces a particular country and its people, including details on family life, religion and history
• profiles developed in consultation with the respective community groups

Community-based social service organization

• settlement programs and services to Rwandan refugees and immigrants of neighboring countries during the difficult, complex and stressful process of acculturation
• Christmas basket
• mattresses donation
• PTSD program
• end violence for women

Organization accepting registrations for the local school supplies program Sharing in Student Success

• backpacks stuffed with grade appropriate supplies needed for the upcoming school year

Health centre focused on family and community health

• information and referral
• community development and engagement
• seniors' programs
• Health Card Assistance Program and assistance to obtain Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) cards
• English as a Second Language for Newcomers
• Community Food Action: collective kitchens, community garden
• Contact Ottawa - Community Voicemail: voice mail box service for those who need to maintain affordable voice mail access

Information and referral services for immigrants, refugees and newcomers to Canada

Resource Centre

• access to computers, community information, events and announcements
• multilingual staff on site
• workshops and information sessions, community partners and leaders, professional associations and employers

Settlement Program (formerly Immigrant Settlement and Adaptation Program): provides services to enable immigrants and refugees to integrate into Canadian society

• orientation programs
• language and skills training to help facilitate employmen
• programs to welcome newcomers to the community
• may provide needs and eligibility assessments
• pre- and post-arrival information and referral
• job search and employment counselling
• assistance to establish social and professional networks to promote community engagement
• assistance to access a range of settlement services

COVID-19 (12 January 2022): Though CCI office is closed to clients, Maison Sophia House remains open until further notice.

96-bed reception facility provides temporary accommodation and initial orientation to government-sponsored refugees and refugee claimants for up to 4 weeks. Refugees are responsible for maintaining their own rooms

• cafeteria with ethnic foods
• child minding
• recreation program

Settlement Services: Needs assessment and Information and referral to community and social services

• support with finding housing, child care, registering children in school and health care
• help filling out government forms including housing forms
• help with connecting to language classes
• workshops to reduce stress of adjusting to Canadian culture
• supportive counselling - short term counselling

Workshops:

• employment
• education
• services in the community
• health
• family law
• immigration
• housing
• shopping
• banking
• orientation

Newcomer settlement services

• counselling on social, immigration and legal matters
• translation of documents
• help with filling out forms for housing
• employment
• liaison with community service providers and government agencies

Community services centre for immigrants and refugees

• assists newcomers, refugees and ethno-cultural groups to become equal participants in social, economic and political life
• creating community and safe spaces
• visiting programs include Legal Aid, Housing Help
• free citizenship test classes for eight weeks, three hours per week
• requirements Canadian Language Benchmark 4

Community Economic Development:

• delivers career mentoring and networking programs to support newcomers to:
• obtain employment in their field
• develop an understanding of the workplace culture
• build networks
• develop strategies for employment maintenance and advancement

Programming includes

• Core Career Mentorship
• Federal Internship for Newcomers (FIN)
• Refugee and Immigrant Supports to Employment (RAISE)
• Pre-Arrival Supports
• Ottawa Mentoring Collaborative
• Job Search Workshops

Multicultural Liaison Officer Program: Multicultural Liaison Officer (MLO) partnering with the English Public and English Catholic school boards of Ottawa to provide:

• settlement services to newcomer families in schools and summer programs
• leadership development
• civic engagement opportunities
• helps create a welcoming school environment for newcomer students
• helps youth gain the necessary skills to achieve their goals and develop a positive mindset to overcome the challenges they may be facing so that they can contribute to Canadian society
• offered both at the elementary and high schools levels for immigrant and refugee youth, ages 13-24

Settlement and Integration Program:

• multilingual and multicultural services to facilitate successful adaptation and integration processes
• information and orientation sessions for individuals, families and groups
• supportive counselling
• settlement consultation
• client advocacy
• community referrals

Counselling Program:

• see separate record for more information

YOCISO:

• offers academic, life skills, counselling, and arts-based support in a fun and interactive way

Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC):

• full-time and part-time English language training for newcomers for settlement and community
• open to all landed immigrants and convention refugees over the age of 17
• classes are offered in the South region of Ottawa
• daytime and evening classes available
• child care is also available

Refugee Sponsorship: private sponsorship of refugees by any group of five or more Canadian citizens or permanent residents 18 years of age and older who live in the expected community of settlement

• group must collectively commit to provide the necessary support for their sponsored refugee for the full duration of the sponsorship
• refugee must qualify as refugee according to Canada's refugee and humanitarian resettlement program.

COVID19 (6 Jul 2020): Conversation circles and other in-person programs are not currently available due to reductions and closures related to the pandemic.


Settlement services

Orientation and Adaptation Services :

• information and referral to community and social services
• community support through conversation circles to practice English or French
• help with connecting to language classes

Citizenship Preparation :

• courses, tests and activities to help newcomers prepare for the citizenship test

Settlement Program (formerly Immigrant Settlement and Adaptation Program)

Orientation and Adaptation Services

• needs assessment and Information and referral to community and social services
• support with finding housing, child care, registering children in school and health care
• help filling out government forms including housing and immigration sponsorship forms
• community support through volunteer befriending, conversation circles to practice English or French
• help with connecting to language classes

Citizenship Preparation

• courses, tests and activities to help newcomers prepare for the citizenship test
• offered in French only
• citizenship preparation courses on-site

Employment Counselling and Preparation

• bridging services connecting skilled or internationally trained professional newcomers to employment with job placements, mentorship, volunteering and networking connections in their preferred fields

Job search centre

• walk-in job search centre
• access to computers, Internet, fax, photocopier, telephone
• staff assistance available
• resource materials
• job boards
• labour market information

Job search preparation and training

• develop strong job search strategies and workplace communication skills

Employment counselling

• resume help
• job readiness clinic
• employment counselling
• skills and career development and help in establishing social and professional networks

Franco-immigrant integration portal (PIFI)

• French-speaking newcomers only Facebook group intended to be a place for friendly discussion on various settlement and integration issues.

Favors the domestic, social and economic integration and health of French Newcomers in Canadian society

• Health information
• home care
• help to find housing
• public services
• mediation accompaniment
• parent support for their child's education
• employment support
• economic integration
• health information
• home health care
• youth meetings
• socio-cultural meetings
• volunteering

Programs:

Carrière agronomique : helps newcomers who have experience in agronomy or agrology to continue in the same line of work

Regionalization : encourages newcomers to establish themselves in rural areas and helps them take all the necessary steps

Organization working towards economic and socio-cultural integration of the racial and ethnocultural francophone minorities of the Ottawa region

• provides services primarily in French to Francophone immigrants and newcomers to the region

Visit website or see separate listings for more details on programs and services

• La Boussole francophone: settlement services and employment services
• Collectivités accueillantes: community connections host program
• Vieillir en Santé: health education program for seniors
• Emploi-CESOC: help with employment research
• Vers la voie du Renouveau: services for francophone youth (12-18 years old) who are in trouble with the law
• income tax preparation assistance for low income individuals; prior and current year returns
• conversation groups in English and French
• technical and cultural support for economic integration of refugees and vulnerable newcomers: job search support, employment services, integrated support, financial literacy, entrepreneurship training, social enterprise training (pilot program until March 2019)

Employment services and settlement services

• working for the economic, social and cultural integration of Francophone racial, ethnic and cultural minorities living in and around Ottawa

Employment Program:

• individual and group training to improve competencies for finding a job or starting a business
• technical and cultural support to set goals and assist in achieving them
• tailoring resumes for job search
• help drafting letters of recommendation
• complements settlement program

Settlement Program: (formerly Immigrant Settlement and Adaptation Program)

• services to enable immigrants and refugees to integrate into Canadian society including orientation programs, language and skills training to help facilitate employment, and programs to welcome newcomers to the community
• individual agencies may provide needs and eligibility assessments, pre- and post-arrival information and referral, job search and employment counselling, assistance to establish social and professional networks to promote community engagement, and assistance to access a range of settlement services